In BC, criminal organizations like the Hells Angels and United Nations operate with ruthless efficiency, profiting from drug trafficking, money laundering, and other illegal activities. From BC's first celebrity gangster, Bindy Johal, to the high-profile Larry Amero, this is the story of BC's gangsters and Vancouver gangs: the dark underbelly you need to know about.
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How Many Gangs Are In BC?
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), there are over 300 different gangs operating in BC, with an estimated 7,000 people involved in gang activity. The most notorious gangs include:
The United Nations (UN) Gang
The Red Scorpions
The Hells Angels
The Independent Soldiers
The Bacon Brothers
The Dhak Group
The 3 Most Infamous BC Gangsters
Bindy Johal, Tom Gisby, and Larry Amero are some of the most notorious BC gangsters in Canadian history:
Bindy Johal: Vancouver's First Celebrity Gangster
Meet Bhupinder "Bindy" Singh Johal, the first celebrity BC gangster to capture the public's attention with his brazen crimes and flashy lifestyle. Johal was a member of the Punjabi Mafia gang, which rose to infamy in Vancouver in the early 1990s.
The Punjabi Mafia has been known to traffic in cocaine, heroin, and marijuana and have also been linked to the production of synthetic drugs such as fentanyl.
Drug Trafficking: In 2017, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) conducted a major operation that resulted in the seizure of 70 kilograms of cocaine and $2 million in cash, which were believed to be linked to the Punjabi Mafia.
His reign of terror reached its peak in 1997 when he committed one of his most heinous crimes:
Killing in cold blood: The murder of Gurpreet Singh Sohi, a member of a rival gang. Johal and his accomplices killed Sohi in cold blood.
Johal's criminal activities eventually caught up with him, and he was arrested in 1994 and charged with multiple offenses.
The Air India Trial: The resulting trial, known as the "Air India trial," lasted from 1995 to 1997 and accused Johal of being a key player in a drug trafficking ring that imported large quantities of heroin and cocaine from Asia.
During the trial, it was revealed that Johal and his associates were also responsible for:
Bombing: Planting a bomb in a car that killed a woman who was mistakenly identified as the intended target.
Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Johal refused to admit his involvement in the crimes until his death in a gang-related shooting in 1998. But Johal's criminal activities did not stop there. In 1994, he was also charged with:
Murder: The murder of Ron Dosanjh, a journalist who had been investigating the Punjabi Mafia. Dosanjh was shot multiple times outside his office in downtown Vancouver, and Johal was the prime suspect. However, the charges against him were eventually dropped due to lack of evidence.
How Did Bindy Johal Die?
In 1999, was shot dead in the back of the head while hanging out at the Palladium nightclub in Vancouver. There were over 300 witnesses when the murder took place. No one came forward to identify the shooter.
Who Is BC Gangster Larry Amero?
Larry Amero grew up in Langley, BC, was associated with Hells Angels and the Wolfpack Alliance. Amero began his journey with the Hells Angels as a "hang-around" member in 2002 at the White Rock chapter.
Three years later, he progressed to the "full patch" rank, making him one of the most dominant members of the chapter.
Despite being part of the Hells Angels, Amero worked as a longshoreman at the Port of Vancouver. Interestingly, the Hells Angels have control over the port, which they use to smuggle illegal drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin into Canada.
This port is also used to transport cocaine and methamphetamine to other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.
Larry Amero's Early Crimes:
He gained famous status as a member of the Wolfpack Alliance and associations with the Red Scorpions gang, which was involved in drug trafficking, extortion, and violence in the Lower Mainland.
In 2005, Amero was arrested in the United States on drug trafficking charges but was later released due to a technicality.
Amero's Criminal Empire:
Amero became leaders of the Wolfpack Alliance alongside Jonathan Bacon of the Red Scorpions and Randy Naicker and James Riach of the Independent Soldiers.
He was involved in a variety of illegal activities, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and murder-for-hire.
The Bacon Brothers Conflict:
In 2009, Amero and his associates became involved in a violent conflict with the Bacon Brothers gang. The conflict resulted in several shootings, including the high-profile shooting of Jonathan Bacon in Kelowna, British Columbia, in 2011.
Other Notable Crimes:
In August 2011, Amero was one of the targets of a high-profile shooting at a Kelowna casino that left three people dead and several injured.
Amero himself was not injured in the shooting, but it was widely believed to be related to an ongoing gang war in BC.
In 2013, Amero was arrested as part of a major police operation targeting organized crime in British Columbia.
He was charged with drug trafficking, conspiracy to commit murder, and other offenses.
Amero was ultimately acquitted of the murder conspiracy charge but pleaded guilty to the drug trafficking charge in 2019 and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
The Reign Of BC Gangster Tom Gisby
A prominent member of the Hells Angels in BC, Gisby was involved in drug trafficking and other organized crime activities before being shot and killed in Mexico in 2012. It is also believed that Gisby was a part of the infamous Dhak Group in Vancouver.
He was found guilty of trafficking cocaine in 1991 and later charged with tax evasion and fraud in 2005. Gisby was connected to multiple Mexican drug-trafficking cartels and oversaw a criminal organization known as the "Gisby Crime Group," according to law enforcement.
Gisby was born on June 20, 1964, and grew up in British Columbia, where he started his criminal activities in his late teens. Gisby was associated with numerous gangs, including the Hells Angels, the United Nations gang, and the Independent Soldiers.
Some of the notable crimes include:
In 1994, he was involved in a high-speed car chase with police officers after he was caught trafficking drugs. The chase ended in a shootout, and Gisby was shot in the hand.
In 2006, Gisby was suspected of orchestrating a plot to kill rival gang leader Gurmit Singh Dhak. Dhak was shot dead, but Gisby was not charged in connection with the murder.
In 2011, Gisby was the target of an assassination attempt at a restaurant in Mexico. He narrowly escaped but was later killed in another targeted shooting in January 2012 while in Mexico. The Airplane Murder
In 2012, Tom Gisby was gunned down in Mexico while sitting in a luxury SUV outside a Starbucks. His murder was highly publicized and marked the end of a long criminal career. However, what made his death particularly shocking was the fact that it occurred just hours after he arrived in Mexico. Gisby's killing was widely believed to be a "hit" ordered by one of his many enemies in the criminal underworld.
Surrey Six Case: The Notorious BC Gangsters' Brutal Crime
The Surrey Six case is one of the most high-profile and notorious criminal cases in Canadian history. The case involved the brutal slaying of six individuals on October 19, 2007, in a high-rise apartment building in Surrey, BC.
The Red Scorpions were reportedly attempting to take over the drug trade in Surrey, and the Bacon Brothers were seen as a threat to their heroin and cocaine operations.
The victims included two innocent bystanders, Edward Narong and Chris Mohan, who were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and four targeted victims: Corey Lal, his brother Michael, Ryan Bartolomeo, and Eddie Narong's brother, Ed Schellenberg.
Key details of the Surrey Six case include:
October 19, 2007: The six victims are shot and killed in suite 1505 of the Balmoral Tower in Surrey.
November 2007: Two men, Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnston, are arrested and charged with six counts of first-degree murder in connection with the case.
2009-2013: The trial is delayed due to legal challenges and changes in defense counsel.
September 2013: The trial finally begins, lasting for over a year.
December 2014: Both Haevischer and Johnston are found guilty of all charges.
July 2017: An appeal by Haevischer and Johnston is denied by the British Columbia Court of Appeal.
February 2019: The Supreme Court of Canada refuses to hear an appeal by Haevischer and Johnston, effectively upholding their convictions.
BC’s Notorious Gangs: Is Law Enforcement Cracking Down?
In 2018, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) launched a major operation targeting drug trafficking activities of the Red Scorpions and the United Nations gangs.
The operation, dubbed "Project Territory," resulted in the seizure of over 70 kilograms of fentanyl, cocaine and other drugs, as well as the arrest of several individuals affiliated with the targeted gangs. Similarly, in 2020, the RCMP announced that they had intercepted a shipment of over 270 kgs of methamphetamine and fentanyl that was believed to be linked to the Hells Angels motorcycle gang.
These operations demonstrate the continued efforts of law enforcement agencies in British Columbia to disrupt the activities of criminal gangs and keep communities safe.
Best Personal Self Defense Items You Can Carry In Canada
As we reflect on the stark realities of gang activities in BC, it becomes increasingly important for individuals and communities to take proactive steps towards safety and awareness. For our Canadian readers looking to enhance their personal security, here are the best products we recommend.
Anti Spy Detectors can accurately detect any eavesdropping, location trackers, hidden cameras, electrical radiation sources or GPS trackers.
Or if you want to do some spying of your own, you can use this mini camera!
In Canada, carrying pepper spray is illegal for use against humans. However, you can carry dog spray to use against dogs, wildlife and (ahem) animals.
This safety device can be discreetly carried while walking your dog, while jogging, living on campus, walking to your car, in the parking lot, on public transportation and so forth.
Your every day flashlight can be used as self-defense tool by shining it in an attacker's eyes to blind and disorient them. Flashlights are of course legal to carry in Canada, unlike many other self-defense tools.
If you’re trapped in a car, you can break glass with a Tactical Pen (otherwise known as a windshield breaker).
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