4 men charged after VPD make 'significant' drugs and firearms seizure

A five-month VPD investigation has led to the seizure of eight firearms and more than two kilograms of heroin, and fentanyl.

Known as Project Tariff, the investigation was launched in March to look into the activities of the Heer/Dhillon/Samra crime group.

The group was believed to be in conflict with other crimes groups involved in drug-trafficking and criminal activity throughout Metro Vancouver.

“We launched Project Tariff in response to increased reports of incidents of shots fired in Vancouver and the ongoing crime related to gang activity,” said VPD Supt. Mike Porteous.

“Over the course of the investigation, we obtained substantial evidence of trafficking of firearms, fentanyl, and other illicit opioids by this group.”

As a result of the investigation, four Lower Mainland-based alleged gang associates have been arrested and charged with various drug-trafficking and firearms-related offences:

• Jagraj Mushki Nijjar, 23, of Vancouver, has been charged with possession of a non-restricted firearm;
• Jaskaran Singh Heer, 22, of Vancouver, has been charged with possession of a loaded restricted firearm, intentionally discharging a restricted firearm, possession of a restricted firearm, and possession of a firearm while prohibited.
• Harjot Singh Samra, 21, of Vancouver, has been charged with firearms trafficking and drug trafficking;
• Gary Gurpreet Dhillon, 25, of Richmond, has been charged with possession of proceeds of crime contrary to Canada’s Criminal Code, and drug trafficking.

Weapons and drugs seized

A number of restricted and prohibited weapons were seized as a result of the investigation as well.

These include:

• JR (Just Right) 9mm carbine semi-automatic assault rifle
• Pietta PPS/50 .22 semi-automatic rifle
• Remington 870 20-gauge pump-action shotgun
• Maverick 12-gauge pump action sawed-off shotgun (prohibited)
• Browning model A-Bolt action rifle
• Three Kel Tec Sub2000 9mm semi-automatic rifles

Some of the firearms seized (Eric Zimmer / Daily Hive)

The arrest also resulted in a number of drugs being seized in various amounts:

• 26.97 grams (one ounce) of heroin, fentanyl, and carfentanil
• 971 grams swabbed positive for heroin and methylfentanyl (has yet to be analyzed by Health Canada)
• 1,021 grams of fentanyl.

Eric Zimmer / Daily Hive

As to the size of the sting, Porteous said that “in the grand scheme of things” he considers this to be “near the higher end,” noting the seriousness of the weapons that were seized, as well as the amount and type of drugs.

“There is a significant amount of fentanyl, which, as you know, is at the core of the ongoing opioid crisis in the Downtown Eastside and across the Lower Mainland,” he added. “It’s hard to quantify the amount of street-level value of this level of fentanyl.”

And while he couldn’t give a specific total dollar amount, Porteous said he was talking “in the millions.”

Asked about the seemingly ongoing gang violence, Porteous said it’s a result of competition for business in the drug trade.

“That would apply to any type of economic situation,” he said. “Usually the violence is related to instability… a disruption in the economy [of the drug trade] that causes gang violence and that’s what we’re seeing here.”

As for where the seizures themselves took place, Porteous said that “some were seized from vehicles, some were seized from homes, some were seized from individuals.”

The seizures, he said, “occurred across the region. We executed search warrants in Richmond, Surrey and Vancouver.”