FORT ST JOHN, B.C. - A new police unit dedicated to fighting gangs and organized crime in Northern B.C. is now up and running, a move authorities say will bring a more permanent response to crime issues affecting communities such as Fort St. John and Dawson Creek.
The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C. (CFSEU-BC) officially launched its North District Uniform Gang Enforcement Team (UGET) Thursday.
The team, based in Prince George, will serve communities throughout Northern B.C., including the Peace Region.
According to CFSEU-BC, its Lower Mainland gang enforcement team was deployed to Northern B.C. 39 times between 2020 and mid-2026 to assist local police responding to organized crime, gang activity and violence.
Officials say those repeated deployments demonstrated the need for a permanent presence in the North.
For residents of Northeast B.C., the announcement comes after a summer marked by several high-profile shootings in Fort St. John and ongoing concerns about drug trafficking and organized crime in the region.
While local RCMP detachments will continue leading investigations, the specialized team is intended to provide additional resources focused on prolific offenders, gang networks and organized criminal groups operating across municipal boundaries.
“The time is now and we are here,” Acting Chief Officer Ryan Element said during the launch, adding the unit will use intelligence-led and proactive enforcement to disrupt organized crime and prevent violence.
Officials say one of the biggest challenges facing police is that criminal groups involved in the drug trade move from community to community, often exploiting vulnerable people and operating across large geographic areas.
The new North District team is designed to follow those networks wherever they operate in Northern B.C. rather than being limited by local detachment boundaries.
When asked specifically how the new unit will improve policing in Northeast B.C., officials pointed to previous deployments to Fort St. John and Dawson Creek, saying specialized gang enforcement teams have been effective at reducing violence during operations in those communities.
Police said the North District team will now be the primary unit deployed when communities in the North experience spikes in gang-related violence, with support available from Lower Mainland officers when needed.
CFSEU-BC Media Relations Officer Sgt. Sarbjit Sangha said the goal is to maintain a sustained enforcement presence targeting organized crime, drug trafficking, firearm trafficking and other activities linked to gang violence.
Authorities emphasized the creation of the team is not tied to any single incident or community. Instead, they say it reflects a recognition that organized crime remains a persistent issue throughout Northern B.C. and requires a dedicated long-term response.
For communities across the Peace Region, the launch means quicker access to specialized gang enforcement resources and investigators focused specifically on criminal groups that contribute to violence, drug trafficking and public safety concerns across the Northeast.