October 22, 2025
RED FM News Desk
A six-week investigation by the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) has resulted in three arrests, the seizure of $336,000 worth of toxic drugs from a rooming house in the Downtown Eastside (DTES), and the recovery of thousands of dollars in stolen property destined for the illicit market.
Sergeant Steve Addison stated, “Despite a reduction in violence in the Downtown Eastside, there remain ongoing concerns about criminal activity impacting the community. As a result of this investigation, we have dismantled an organized criminal network that had essentially occupied a portion of a building intended for low-income residents.”
The VPD’s Task Force Barrage launched the investigation in August, targeting criminal activity occurring in the area of Carrall and East Hastings Street.
During the six-week probe, officers gathered evidence on a criminal network operating out of the West Pub and using several suites inside the West Hotel to traffic toxic drugs, weapons, and stolen property.
Sergeant Addison further noted that the rooms in the West Hotel were being used for storing stolen property, weapons, and illegal drugs, not for housing. He added, “It’s a reminder that, even as violent crime and street disorder in the Downtown Eastside is receding, organized criminals are still finding ways to profit at the expense of the neighbourhood’s most vulnerable people.”
The VPD arrested three individuals, all in their 50s, on September 25th—none of whom were residents of the Downtown Eastside. Criminal charges have not yet been formally laid, and the investigation remains ongoing.
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