ABBOTSFORD BASED GANG MAKES INROADS IN B.C. NORTH

A Lower Mainland gang that Abbotsford police have identified as their
number one target has now made inroads into the drug trade in northern
B.C.

Smithers RCMP Sgt. Kirsten Marshall said this week that the "Duhre
group" - headed by brothers Sandip, Balraj and Paul Duhre - is now on
the radar of police in the city of 6,000.

"We are aware of a small group of individuals in Smithers of late who
have openly flaunted their association with a Lower Mainland/Upper
Fraser Valley organized crime gang known as the Duhre group," Marshall
said Wednesday. "It is being reported that these individuals have
displayed firearms and may also be intimidating or threatening people."

Just last month, Abbotsford police Chief Bob Rich told a packed public
meeting that the Duhre brothers had replaced the Red Scorpions gang as
the main drug trafficking group in the Fraser Valley.

"The Duhre brothers - three brothers that worked at one point for
[slain Vancouver gangster] Bindy Johal - now control drugs in
Abbotsford," Rich said. "We are going after them."

Marshall said Smithers RCMP, which is 1084 kilometres from Abbotsford,
wanted the community to be aware of emerging trends within the local
drug trade which police have noticed over the last few weeks. She said
there have been an increasing number of drug busts, including seizures
of cocaine and ecstasy.

"What has caught our attention and of new concern is - in addition to
the known local persons who are currently involved in the illicit drug
trade in our area whom we are actively investigating - we are seeing a
new presence attempting to establish themselves," she said.

She said the new drug gang "may lure or recruit youths/young adults
into participating in their illicit activities and will distribute
illegal drugs to youth and adults alike in the community."

Abbotsford Police Const. Ian MacDonald said Thursday that the city's
gang squad has been sharing intelligence with law enforcement
throughout the Fraser Valley, Lower Mainland and B.C.

"The Abbotsford Police Department's Gang Suppression Unit has
significant intelligence on the Duhre group and have worked
collaboratively in the pursuit of public safety for numerous
communities," MacDonald said.

Smithers RCMP is fighting back by trying to work with local youth and
educate them on "the dangers of violence, which are associated with
the drug trade in general."

"We have been receiving excellent cooperation from the community to
date and we are confident this will continue," Marshall said.