In 2000, inside a youth detention center in British Columbia, Quang Vinh Thang (Michael) Le, and Konaam Shirzad forged an alliance that would evolve into one of Canada’s most feared criminal organizations—the Red Scorpions.
The gang’s origins trace back to a brutal 2000 killing in a Coquitlam karaoke club, where Le and his associate Eddie Narong beat Richard Jung to death in retaliation for years of bullying. Their time in detention was not a setback but an opportunity—a breeding ground for gang loyalty, expansion, and strategy.
By 2005, the Red Scorpions had seized control of dial-a-dope drug trafficking in Metro Vancouver, establishing a multi-ethnic, highly structured network willing to eliminate anyone in their way.
Their rivalry with the United Nations gang exploded after brothers Jonathan, Jarrod, and Jamie Bacon defected to the Red Scorpions, escalating a bloody gang war that would culminate in the 2007 Surrey Six massacre—one of the deadliest gangland killings in Canadian history.
This is the story of their rise, their reign of terror, and the violent power struggles that continue to shape Vancouver’s underworld.
Key Takeaways: The Red Scorpions Gang
Multi-ethnic membership: Unlike most gangs in the region, the Red Scorpions prioritized loyalty over race, making them distinct in Vancouver’s underworld.
Major criminal activities: The gang controlled dial-a-dope drug trafficking networks, engaged in targeted killings, and established connections with Hells Angels-affiliated groups like the Independent Soldiers.
Notorious gang rivalry: The Red Scorpions and the United Nations gang were bitter enemies, leading to dozens of murders, including the Surrey Six massacre in 2007, where six people—including two innocent bystanders—were executed.
Ties to the Bacon Brothers: The gang's power increased when Jonathan, Jarrod, and Jamie Bacon defected from the United Nations gang to join the Red Scorpions, escalating violent conflicts across the Lower Mainland.
Law enforcement crackdown: Key members, including Michael Le, Cody Haevischer, and Matthew Johnston, were convicted in the Surrey Six murders, while Jamie Bacon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder.
Current status: While the gang’s influence has diminished due to police operations and high-profile arrests, the Red Scorpions remain active in BC.
Origins and Formation of the Red Scorpions
The Red Scorpions gang was formed in the early 2000s in BC, Canada, by a group of young offenders who met in a youth detention center.
The founding members included Quang Vinh Thang (Michael) Le, Konaam Shirzad, Matthew Johnston, and Tejinder Malli, along with an unidentified fifth member.
According to Michael Le’s court testimony, the gang’s name was chosen to honor his older brother, who was known as “Scorpion,” while “Red” symbolized blood.
The gang’s early years were marked by violent confrontations, including the 2000 killing of Richard Jung, a Korean-Canadian teenager who had bullied Le and his close associate Edward “Eddie” Narong.
The murder took place in a Coquitlam karaoke club, where Jung was beaten to death in a washroom. Both Le and Narong were convicted of manslaughter in 2002 and sentenced to 18 months in the Willingdon Youth Detention Centre.
While incarcerated, Le and Narong restructured the Red Scorpions, transforming it from a loosely affiliated street gang into a more organized and disciplined criminal enterprise.
They introduced gang tattoos, requiring members to mark their wrists or necks with “RS”, while skull tattoos reportedly signified members who had carried out murders on behalf of the gang.
Upon their release, Le and Narong expanded the Red Scorpions’ presence in the Lower Mainland, recruiting members and solidifying their drug trafficking operations. Their influence grew rapidly, setting the stage for the gang’s dominance in Vancouver’s criminal underworld.
Rise to Power: Drug Trafficking and Expansion
Following their release from youth detention, the Red Scorpions' main business model revolved around dial-a-dope operations, a highly profitable system that allowed customers to purchase illicit drugs—primarily cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy—through discreet phone-based transactions, with couriers delivering the product directly.
By 2005, the gang had cemented its control over drug distribution networks in Metro Vancouver, Surrey, Abbotsford, and Coquitlam, using intimidation and violence to eliminate competition.
The Red Scorpions’ willingness to execute rivals quickly earned them a reputation for ruthlessness, with new recruits proving their loyalty through acts of violence.
The gang’s multi-ethnic membership further set them apart from traditional crime groups that were often ethnically exclusive.
The Bacon Brothers and the Red Scorpions’ Transformation
The Red Scorpions’ influence skyrocketed in 2006 when they recruited brothers Jonathan, Jarrod, and Jamie Bacon, a trio of violent gangsters from Abbotsford, BC, who had previously worked with the United Nations gang.
On December 7, 2006, police responded to a tip about a man carrying a firearm at Castle Fun Park in Abbotsford, leading to the arrests of Jamie Bacon, Dennis Karbovanec, and Anton Hooites-Meursing of the Red Scorpions, along with Randy Naicker and Barry Espadilla of the Independent Soldiers.
This seemingly routine police intervention exposed deeper alliances between Vancouver’s major criminal groups, particularly the Red Scorpions, Independent Soldiers, and Hells Angels.
The Surrey Six Massacre: The Red Scorpions’ Defining Crime
On October 19, 2007, the Red Scorpions cemented their infamy with one of the most gruesome and high-profile mass killings in Canadian history—the Surrey Six murders.
This targeted execution, carried out in Suite 1505 of Balmoral Tower in Surrey, BC, was meant to eliminate Corey Lal, a rival drug dealer who refused to pay a $100,000 extortion demand imposed by the Red Scorpions.
Instead of a single assassination, the gang left behind six bodies, two of whom were innocent bystanders.
The Victims of the Surrey Six Murders
Corey Lal (22): The primary target, a drug dealer encroaching on Red Scorpions territory.
Michael Lal (26): Corey’s older brother, executed alongside him.
Ryan Bartolomeo (19): A close associate of the Lal brothers.
Eddie Narong (22): A former Red Scorpions member who was considered untrustworthy.
Edward Schellenberg (55): An innocent gas fitter servicing the apartment at the time of the murders.
Christopher Mohan (22): A completely innocent neighbor who lived across the hall and was pulled into the apartment moments before the killings.
The Killers and Their Motive
The hit was ordered by Jamie Bacon, who wanted Corey Lal killed for failing to pay an extortion fee. The execution team included Cody Haevischer, Matthew Johnston, and an unidentified third gunman known as "Person X", who later became a Crown witness.
After forcing their way into the apartment, the killers executed all six victims to eliminate witnesses, a move that would ultimately turn public and police scrutiny against the gang. "Person X" admitted to shooting three victims, while Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnston were responsible for the other three.
Convictions and Legal Fallout
Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnston were convicted of six counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Michael Le, a founding member, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and received a 12-year sentence, later reduced due to time served.
Jamie Bacon, initially charged with one count of first-degree murder and conspiracy, pleaded guilty in 2020 to conspiracy to commit the murder of Corey Lal and received an 18-year sentence (reduced due to time served).
"Person X" remains unidentified due to a court-imposed publication ban, serving a life sentence for his role in the killings.
The Decline
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) and other Canadian law enforcement agencies focused significant resources on dismantling the Red Scorpions after the Surrey Six massacre. Key developments included:
2014: Matt Campbell, a senior Red Scorpion leader, was stabbed to death in an Abbotsford parking lot.
2017: Konaam Shirzad, one of the gang’s original founders, was shot and killed outside his home in Kamloops. His death signaled a shift in power within the organization.
2018: Cory Vallee, a hitman for the United Nations gang, was convicted of killing Red Scorpion member Kevin LeClair, part of the ongoing gang war between the two organizations.
2020: Jamie Bacon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in the Surrey Six case, receiving a reduced sentence of 18 years.
While these arrests and murders weakened the gang, they did not eliminate it. Instead, new leaders emerged, keeping the organization active.
Shifts in Power and the Rise of New Gangs
As older Red Scorpions leaders were arrested or killed, a new wave of organized crime groups emerged, challenging their control:
The Brothers Keepers: A violent new group that rose to power in the late 2010s, known for its links to international drug trafficking. Read their profile here.
The Wolfpack Alliance: A network of gangsters linked to Hells Angels and former Red Scorpions associates, continuing to control parts of BC’s drug trade. Read their story here.
The Red Scorpions Today
Despite losing key members and facing constant police scrutiny, the Red Scorpions are not fully extinct. They have continued to be linked to drug operations in the Lower Mainland, albeit at a reduced capacity compared to their peak in the mid-2000s.
While they no longer hold the same level of power, their legacy remains embedded in British Columbia’s criminal history. The gang’s brutal tactics, multi-ethnic membership, and high-profile murders forever changed the landscape of organized crime in Canada.
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