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), over 300 gangs operate across the province, involving approximately 7,000 individuals in various forms of organized crime. The most notorious groups 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
Bindy Johal was a high-profile gangster in the 1990s, known for his audacious personality and violent tactics. He rose to infamy as part of the Punjabi Mafia, becoming a key figure in Vancouver’s drug trade. Johal was linked to the murder of Ron and Jimmy Dosanjh, two rival gangsters. His notoriety ended in 1998 when he was shot dead at a Vancouver nightclub​.
The Punjabi Mafia, with ties to cocaine, heroin, and marijuana trafficking in Vancouver during the 1990s, became a key player in the local drug trade.
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Murder of Gurpreet Singh Sohi: Johal and his associates were linked to the murder of rival gang member Gurpreet Singh Sohi, a part of Johal’s violent campaign to eliminate rivals during the height of Vancouver’s gang wars.
Murder of Ron Dosanjh: Ron Dosanjh, a prominent gangster., was shot and killed in 1994, and Johal was widely suspected of orchestrating the murder. However, charges against Johal were dropped due to insufficient evidence​.
How Did Bindy Johal Die?
In 1998, 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.
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
Tom Gisby was not affiliated with the Hells Angels or the UN gang, contrary to some reports (thank you to one of my readers' who pointed this out to me and led me to research further). He was a drug smuggler who worked with multiple gangs across Canada while remaining independent. Gisby maintained his autonomy and was not a member of any single gang, allowing him to navigate the criminal underworld without being tied to one group.
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.
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 killings took place on October 19, 2007, in a high-rise apartment at the Balmoral Tower in Surrey, British Columbia. The mass murder was part of a violent conflict related to the Red Scorpions gang’s efforts to control Surrey’s drug trade. The leaders at the time were Michael Le, Jamie Bacon, and others, not Jonathan Bacon (who was involved but not a key figure in the Surrey Six incident itself).
Victims:
Two innocent bystanders: Ed Schellenberg, a gas fitter who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and Chris Mohan, a neighbor who was dragged into the apartment and killed to prevent him from being a witness.
Four targeted victims: Corey Lal, Michael Lal, Ryan Bartolomeo, and Eddie Narong, who were involved in the local drug trade and targeted for execution by the Red Scorpions ​(Source: Dynamic Striking)​ (Wing Chun Kung Fu)​ (Fight Platform).
Key Details of the Surrey Six Case:
October 19, 2007: The six victims are shot and killed in suite 1505 of the Balmoral Tower in Surrey.
November 2007: Two Red Scorpions members, Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnston, are arrested and charged with six counts of first-degree murder.
2009-2013: The trial is delayed due to legal challenges, with changing defense lawyers and other procedural issues.
September 2013: The trial begins, and it lasts over a year due to the complexity of the case.
December 2014: Both Haevischer and Johnston are found guilty on all charges.
July 2017: Their appeal is denied by the British Columbia Court of Appeal.
February 2019: The Supreme Court of Canada refuses to hear another appeal, upholding the convictions​
BC’s Notorious Gangs: Is Law Enforcement Cracking Down?
In recent years, law enforcement agencies in British Columbia have made significant efforts to combat organized crime, particularly targeting prominent gangs like the Red Scorpions, United Nations (UN) Gang, and Hells Angels. One of the most notable operations in this ongoing battle was Project Territory, launched in 2018Â by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC).
Project Territory was a major initiative aimed at disrupting the drug trafficking activities of the Red Scorpions and the UN Gang. The operation resulted in the seizure of more than 70 kilograms of fentanyl, cocaine, and other illicit substances, as well as the arrest of several key gang members involved in these operations​.
In another significant crackdown, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) intercepted a shipment in 2020 that contained over 270 kilograms of methamphetamine and fentanyl, believed to be connected to the Hells Angels motorcycle gang. The seizure was part of a broader strategy to curb the distribution of dangerous drugs throughout British Columbia and beyond​.
These operations highlight the ongoing commitment of BC law enforcement agencies to dismantling criminal organizations and keeping 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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