Pubdate: Wed, 15 Apr 2015
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Kim Bolan
Page: 8

COPS MEET WALL OF SILENCE AS DEALERS FIGHT OVER DRUG TURF

SURREY: Gangsters refuse to co-operate despite shootings, police
say

Two groups of young drug dealers who have been shooting at each other
in public places have refused to co-operate with police, even when
they have been wounded by flying bullets, Surrey's top cop said Tuesday.

Surrey RCMP Chief Supt. Bill Fordy released another eight photographs
of young men involved in the battle and said they, along with five
others identified last month, are behind 19 brazen shootings in Surrey
and North Delta in six weeks.

"We believe these two groups are competing over turf and have chosen
to jeopardize public safety in that process," Fordy said.

"This type of violence is completely unacceptable. Since the very
first shooting, the Surrey RCMP has been working diligently with our
law enforcement partners in Delta, the RCMP Lower Mainland District
and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit."

Fordy expressed frustration with the smug arrogance of the young
criminals, saying one even told investigators "the bullets fell from
the sky" after he was shot.

Fordy and acting Delta Police Chief Lyle Beaudoin urged the young
gangsters to rethink their behaviour, and tried to reassure the public
that police are doing everything they can.

Fordy said most of those involved are either South Asian or Somali,
and police have reached out to community leaders and families of the
young criminals.

"This is our No. 1 priority," Fordy said.

Beaudoin said Surrey RCMP and Delta Police are working closely
together to combat the violence.

"You are going to see police cars everywhere," Beaudoin
said.

Only one person linked to the shootings has so far been
charged.

As reported Monday, 18-year-old Arman Dhatt is facing a dozen firearms
and drugtrafficking charges after his arrest Friday in North Delta.

Fordy said Tuesday that Dhatt is still under investigation for a
possible link to the shootings. But he said the investigations have
been hampered by the total lack of co-operation.

"As you can imagine, this lack of cooperation has significantly
impacted our ability to make any arrests," he said.

Fordy said police have reached out to parents of the young men
involved. Some have been surprised. Others were in denial and still
others expressed their contempt for the police, Fordy said.

Involved in the conflict are Surrey residents Adam Lakatos, Derrick
Bequette, Chadanjot Gill, Charandeep Tiwana, Tirath Taggar and Sukhraj
Chahal, as well as Delta residents Shakiel Basra and Sukhpreet Pansal

Fordy said police are still seeking information about the activities
of the men whose names were released last month - Surrey residents
Sameh Mohammed, Amrit Kular, Indervir Johal and Pardeep Singh, and
Delta resident Pardip Brar.

Among the 13 men, Bequette, Gill, Pansal, Taggar, Tiwana, Johal and
Singh have all been shot, Fordy said.
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