News: Vancouver Police Issue Warrants for Alleged Drug Dealers

Neal Hall, Vancouver Sun

Published: Friday, October 19, 2007

VANCOUVER - Arrest warrants have been issued for 38 people after an undercover operation targeting drug dealing in the Downtown Eastside and Broadway SkyTrain station, Vancouver police said today.

"We have 17 of these 38 individuals in custody," Insp. Dean Robinson, in charge of the gang squad and drug section, said during a news conference.

Police began the roundup Wednesday and are still looking for some suspects, he said.

Most of the drugs purchased were crack cocaine and marijuana, Robinson said, noting police are seeing less heroin available on the street.

"These individuals prey on addicts, they prey on the mentally ill and they destroy individuals, families and communities," the inspector said.

The operation, codenamed Tyke 3, was the third buy-and-bust operation involving undercover operators this year. It ran from Oct. 2 to Oct. 12, with a week spent solely targeting the Commercial Drive area near the Broadway SkyTrain station.

Robinson said one of the undercover operators was robbed of cash near the station when he produced money to purchase drugs. The robber grabbed the money, then threatened the undercover officer by saying, "Back off or I'll stab you," the inspector said.

The suspect is in custody facing robbery charges, he added.