To say that Whitehorse and the entire Yukon Territory are unimpressed with the imports from Langley they are dealing with would be an understatement.
The 856 Gang, once treated by some in Langley as a troublesome but inconsequential group of teens with little to do, has elbowed its way into the lucrative drug business in the north. RCMP unveiled the extent of its involvement in the territorial drug trade at a news conference in Whitehorse on Wednesday.
The gang’s trafficking of drugs, use of illegal weapons and disregard for anyone else is certainly nothing new to police, or to anyone who has observed similar gangs in this part of the country. It’s all about taking care of those on the inside, and making vast quantities of money by preying on people’s addictions.
While some drug gang members do get killed as a result of ongoing turf wars and the endless rivalries that exist between and even within gangs, there are always new recruits anxious to take their places. The appeal to a certain group of people is the notoriety, the money and the lifestyle.
Quebec was once known as the centre for criminal gangs in Canada, but a great deal of that activity has shifted to B.C. As RCMP said on Thursday, the gangs that operate here have shifted their activities to the north, where there are people who are susceptible to drug use and ready to enrich the gang members and satisfy their cravings.
The lax attitude towards drug laws in B.C., particularly at the court level, has helped gangs grow rich and powerful here. It has also led to fierce rivalries, such as that which led to the slaughter of six people in a Surrey high-rise. Two of those people had nothing to do with drugs, but were caught in the crossfire.
Whitehorse residents are understandably nervous that such incidents could happen in their community. Already in February, a woman was injured in a drive-by shooting. Police also found a fully automatic AK-47, a sawed-off bolt-action shotgun, drugs and ammunition inside a Whitehorse-area storage locker.
The 856 Gang may not be responsible for all the problems there — but their presence doesn’t help. It’s too bad they continue to cause trouble for people, both near and far.
