RCMP's anti-gang team seizes weapons, drugs and cash during 4-day Kelowna mission

Specialist officers from the RCMP’s anti-gang team were in Kelowna over the long weekend.

They stopped 125 vehicles, checked 75 people and seized an improperly stored .308-calibre rifle alongside other weapons and small amounts of cocaine, crystal meth and fentanyl.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia’s (CFSEU-BC) Uniform Gang Enforcement Team (UGET) spent four days in the city.

According to the CFSEU-BC, the majority of the people checked were connected to the street-level drug trade in Kelowna.

The team is based in the Lower Mainland but often deploys to other cities to provide “short-term support” for local police teams.

“By conducting active and high visibility enforcement in the community, including on those individuals or groups that may be posing the greatest risk to public safety due to their involvement in gang or organized crime activity, UGET was able to contribute to overall law enforcement efforts and enhanced public safety,” the team explained.

While they were in Kelowna, the specialist officers checked out boats while riding in Kelowna RCMP’s patrol vessel.

They also told three people to leave liquor-selling establishments for failing to comply with the City of Kelowna’s Inadmissible Patron Program.

“One of the core aspects of the overall CFSEU-BC enforcement strategy are the Uniform Gang Enforcement Teams,” said Sgt. Brenda Winpenny.

“UGET represents the overt, tactical and specialized uniform presence of CFSEU-BC which will directly interact with individuals involved in organized criminal activity to help our Agency deliver on our mandate. Providing UGET support to Kelowna is a positive for the community and law enforcement.”

Supt. Brent Mundle, who is in charge of the Kelowna RCMP, said he welcomed the opportunity to work with the specialist team.

"The joint effort of UGET and Kelowna Detachment led to many successful outcomes including effective boat patrols,” he said.

“Proactive operations such as this help us to keep our community safe."