Thursday, March 28, 2024

Four members of Vancouver Island’s Hells Angels face 41 criminal charges

Share

Four members of the infamous Hells Angels from Vancouver Island are facing 41 criminal charges in an investigation that spanned four years.

Since 2018, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) has been leading an investigation into the alleged drug traffickers with the support of the  RCMP’s Federal Serious Organized Crime (FSOC) unit.

In 2018 the investigation began with a seizure of 22 firearms, over 13 kilograms of illicit drugs and the arrests of key members that would prevent the Hells Angels from expanding on Vancouver Island. 

Police say that the Hells Angels in Nanaimo are connected to motorcycle clubs like the ‘Savages MC’ and the ‘Devil’s Army MC.’ Investigators believed them to be trafficking drugs on the island. 

According to police, the investigators utilized several techniques of gathering information spanning several months that led them to believe that the Hells Angels were planning on expanding on Vancouver Island.

Evidence was then gathered over 22 months that led the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) office to approve 41 charges against four total individuals on November 30th.

In total, police seized:

  • Cocaine – 7.75 kg
  • Methamphetamine – 1.9 kg
  • Cannabis – 4 kg
  • Pills – 248 Oxycodone
  • Other CDSA – 1.2 kg 
  • Hand guns – 1 Uzi, 5 pistols
  • Long guns – 12 Rifles, 4 shotguns
  • Magazines – 6 oversized prohibited
  • Ammunition – in excess of 4500 rounds
  • 25 electronic devices
  • 5 tubes of commercial emulsion explosives
(Explosives found at in a seizure/Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC))
(Money found at in a seizure/Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC))

Three motor vehicles have also been seized and one house has been restrained as “offence related property.”

“This lengthy and complex investigation spanned over 4 years and included over 50 dedicated resources resulting in significant seizures of potentially deadly drugs and serious charges,” said Assistant Commissioner Manny Mann, Chief Officer for CFSEU-BC. 

“Our mandate and ability to work with our partner agencies to investigate across multiple jurisdictions allows us to investigate gang members and groups who impact public safety in multiple communities.”

These are the four men and their charges:

  • Sean Oliver Douglas Kendall who is a 44-year-old man from Port Alberni
    • Three counts of selling cannabis to an undercover police officer
    • Four counts of trafficking cocaine
  • William Bradley Thompson who is a 58-year-old man from Ladysmith
    • 10 counts of firearm related charges
    • One count of trafficking cocaine
  • Kristopher Stephen Smith who is a 44-year-old man from Nanaimo
    • Three counts of trafficking related charges
    • Three counts of firearm related charges
  • William Karl Paulsen who is a 51-year-old male from Campbell River
    • 16 counts of drug trafficking related charges
    • One count of possessing explosives
Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC)

According to police, Thompson has been arrested and is awaiting the court process. Smith, Paulsen and Kendall are all still at large with arrest warrants issued for them. 

Police ask that anyone who may have any information in connection to the location of these men to please contact their local police or Crime Stoppers. 

mm
Victoria Buzz Staffhttps://www.victoriabuzz.com
Your inside source for Greater Victoria happenings. Established in 2012.

Read more

Latest Stories