Victoria Police undercover unit busts seven members of notorious Red Scorpion Gang
VICTORIA — Seven members of a notorious Vancouver-based drug gang known for its no-mercy reputation have been arrested in Victoria after a month-long undercover operation.
Victoria police say they'll discuss details of their sting on members of the Red Scorpion Gang later today.
The Red Scorpion were allegedly formed eight years ago at a Vancouver-area young offenders' facility where a group of incarcerated youths decided to form a gang to work in the illegal drug trade.
Members of the Red Scorpions are a multi-ethnic gang that believe race is secondary to loyalty and respect and police say they cultivate a reputation of showing no mercy to their enemies.
There have been reports that the Red Scorpion Gang was believed responsible for the slaughter of six people in a Surrey high-rise apartment last October.
Two of those killed in the massacre - one a resident and the other a serviceman - were innocent victims while four other men were tied to drug trafficking in the Lower Mainland.
Red Scorpion Gang members are known for wearing a distinctive RS-initialled tattoo on their wrist, neck or shoulders.
Victoria police have always tried to downplay the presence of gang activity in the Vancouver Island city, but police sources say the Red Scorpions were in Victoria trying to control drug markets.
Vancouver has been in the midst of open, deadly gang wars for the last year, and in northern British Columbia drug gangs in Prince George have been involved in shootouts downtown.
