Proactive measures lead to significant gang crime disruptions

Richmond

2024-08-02 10:44 PDT

Richmond RCMP Gang Enforcement Team (RGET) has achieved significant successes in disrupting criminal activities, enhancing the safety of Richmond’s residents. Known for its proactive and high-visibility approach, RGET focuses on preventing gang-related crime through strategic enforcement operations and community engagement.

Our commitment to community safety is unwavering, said Corporal Frank Marchesini, RGET subject matter expert. We are making it clear to gang members that their activities will be met with persistent law enforcement efforts. Our goal is to create an environment where criminal activities cannot thrive.

Successes

On March 23, 2024 RGET conducted a vehicle stop in the area of Blundell Rd. and No 3 Rd which resulted in the driver being arrested for Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking. During a search incidental to arrest, the RGET officers observed an after-market compartment inside of the vehicle’s front dash. The vehicle was seized under the Armoured Vehicle and After-Market Compartment Control Act, and a search warrant was obtained and executed with assistance from CFSEU-BC experts, leading to the recovery of concealed evidence. This investigation remains active and ongoing with charges pending.

These investigations are complex and involve extensive coordination with CFSEU-BC and other law enforcement teams across the Lower Mainland, added Inspector Mark Baxter, officer in charge of Richmond RCMP Proactive Enforcement and Administrative Services. Individuals involved in the drug and weapons trade often use sophisticated techniques to conceal illicit items, making our work challenging. This is why we train our officers rigorously and maintain strong regional cooperation.

Supporting regional efforts

RGET collaborates closely with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC) and other gang enforcement teams in the Lower Mainland to address the complex, inter-jurisdictional nature of gang crime. This cooperation ensures that Richmond benefits from a coordinated approach to tackling gang-related issues.

Residents are encouraged to stay informed and support these efforts by reporting any suspicious activities to their local police.

Community engagement and prevention

RGET regularly work alongside Richmond RCMP frontline officers, both in the City and at the Vancouver International Airport, supporting tactical responses and enhancing knowledge around gang activity. RGET’s efforts extend beyond enforcement, focusing also on prevention and building strong community partnerships. The team works diligently to prevent gang activities from taking root in Richmond though ongoing partnerships and intelligence-led policing.

Our message is clear: crime doesn’t pay, adds Cpl. Marchesini. The reality is the majority of those involved in gang life end up dead or in jail. We are dedicated to protecting our community and showing youth that there are far better paths to take than gang life.

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Email: richmond_media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Website: richmond.rcmp.ca

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