A member of the Brothers Keepers gang in British Columbia, which police describe as an “extremely violent organized criminal group,” has been sentenced to 11 years in prison on drug trafficking charges.
Amandeep Singh Kang, 31, pleaded guilty in November to trafficking in controlled substances for the benefit of a criminal organization and conspiracy to traffic in controlled substances.
In its sentencing hearing Earlier this month, British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Paul Riley described the drugs Kang was involved with as the “worst, most dangerous and addictive illegal drugs plaguing our society,” specifically fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine in “substantial quantities.”
The Vancouver man was one of six people arrested and charged in 2021, following a three-year investigation by the British Columbia Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC) into the Brothers Keepers group.
The provincial anti-gang task force says the Brothers Keepers emerged on British Columbia’s organized crime landscape in 2017 and were in immediate and violent conflict with rival groups, including the Red Scorpions, the Wolfpack and the Hells Angels.
The CFSEU-BC says it began focusing its attention on the Brothers Keepers the following year, but the gang has since spread to all parts of the province and expanded into Alberta and Ontario.
‘Concerted’ and ‘persistent’ traffic
When Kang and his alleged associates were arrested in 2021, police said they had seized more than 11 kilograms of drugs, as well as $50,000 in cash, a loaded handgun and laboratory equipment used to manufacture synthetic drugs.
“CFSEU-BC has noted several trends within the Brothers Keepers group, including how they have aggressively sought to expand into new markets across British Columbia, utilizing reduced drug prices, branding of products such as fentanyl purple, and increased potency of the drugs. medications on the streets,” said Sgt. Duncan Pound said when charges against the group were announced.
The sentencing judge described Kang as “one of the core members of this organization,” noting that he was involved in both the distribution of large quantities of drugs to couriers throughout British Columbia and the operation of drug distribution networks in Vancouver Island.
“The drug trafficking activity was concerted, prolonged and persistent,” the judge stated.
“I say it was persistent because the traffic continued after multiple rounds of police actions,” he added. “Taking coercive measures was not enough to deter the group, including Mr. Kang, from continuing their activities. They were concerned only or primarily about how to continue undetected by the police.”
‘Reflect on the decisions you have made’
Since then, at least two others detained with Kang have pleaded guilty to drug charges, including Andrew Miguel, sentenced to five years in prison, and Moshmem Khanun Khan, who was given a suspended sentence.
“I can say that while 11 years is a very substantial prison sentence, the sentence sought here is probably at the lower end of the acceptable range, given the nature of the criminal conduct in question,” the judge concluded before addressing directly to Kang. court.
“Reflect on the decisions you have made and your associations and what has led you to this point in your life,” he told the offender. “You have a long sentence to serve and time to reflect on those things. If you don’t make the decision to take your life in a different direction, probably the best outcome for you is that you will end up in prison again, and the worst outcome is that you will end up being another fatal victim of organized crime.
With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Kaija Jussinoja