Pubdate: Tue, 07 Dec 2010 Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC) Copyright: 2010 Abbotsford News Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/BkAJKrUD Website: http://www.abbynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155 Author: Jeff Nagel DANGEROUS GANG BATTLES AVERTED, POLICE CLAIM Police say they're trying to put a lid on a new round of violence that has threatened to erupt between Metro Vancouver gangs. Tensions have risen in recent weeks in the wake of the high-profile targeted murder of a suspected gangster in October at a Burnaby mall. Several men in their late 20s have been arrested since then and multiple guns seized in connection with four recent incidents, according to Sgt. Shinder Kirk of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit. He said the arrests "have prevented several acts of violence on our streets that could have placed the public at serious risk." Among those arrested and facing firearms-related charges are Pedram Taromi Nejad Shirazi, Christopher Henry Iser, Derek James Stephen, Christopher Jai Reddy, Robert Joshua Achadinha and Glen Harley Tesuji Sheck, who is a Surrey resident. Some of the arrests were made in connection with a Oct. 27 incident at Kensington Park in Vancouver. Officers have seized three assault rifles, three semi-automatic pistols, one loaded hand gun, body armour, night vision goggles, $20,000 in cash, counterfeit currency and two vehicles outfitted with hidden compartments. "We have seen a proliferation of illegal firearms in our communities, especially in the hands of individuals associated to the gang environment," Gang Task Force Supt. Tom McCluskie said. He said gang-suppression efforts of the officers with various special enforcement teams have prompted four high-profile gangsters to leave the country and a fifth has left the province. Ongoing tensions remain and investigators say they're continuing to pursue suspects who pose a risk to public safety. SFU criminologist Dr. Rob Gordon said any policing victories that block a gang violence flare-up are welcome, but are ultimately a stop- gap measure. "The underlying issue is still the illegal drug trade," he said. "As long as that exists we're going to have these bumps and grinds." - --- MAP posted-by: Matt