The Vancouver Police Department has seized 328.55 kg of cocaine worth an estimated $5.8 million from a shipping container in southeast Vancouver -- the largest-ever cocaine seizure in the city. Police were called to a Vancouver-based company on July 21, after staff located 14 duffle bags of drugs hidden amongst boxes of t-shirts. The shirts were a legitimate order to the company. “Obviously, the business was shocked by what it found. They called police right away and are in no way associated with the seized cocaine,” said Sergeant Travis Fraser, of the VPD’s Drug Unit. “This amount of drugs, as well as the stamps and packaging, clearly indicates organized crime is behind the shipment.” The investigation has shown the shipping container originated in Honduras on May 18, 2026. It was loaded onto a vessel, then stopped in Jamaica on June 6, 2026, before arriving in Montreal on July 5, 2026. “We believe the cocaine was supposed to be removed prior to its arrival at the company. For some reason, it was not unloaded,” said Fraser. VPD continues to liaise with law enforcement and port authority counterparts in Canada, Honduras, Jamaica, the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, and the RCMP as the investigation continues. #VPDNews

#VPDNews: Crown Counsel has approved charges after woman was allegedly randomly attacked with a weapon in downtown Vancouver yesterday. Shortly before 11 a.m., the woman was walking near Hastings Street and Seymour Street when she was approached by a man she did not know. The man allegedly struck the woman in the abdomen and then walked away from the area. A witness followed the suspect and called 911. The suspect was found nearby and arrested by police. The woman was taken to hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. William Pitt, 49, has now been charged with one count each of assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm. He was detained after a bail hearing and remains in custody.

It was just after 1 a.m. on January 6, 2026, and Vancouver Police Sergeant Calvin Leung was investigating a missing person. He was flagged down by the residents of 25 E. Hastings Street, who reported their building was on fire. Sergeant Leung requested Vancouver Fire Rescue Services, grabbed the fire extinguisher from his patrol vehicle, and entered the building. As he reached the second floor, the heavy black smoke severely limited visibility and made breathing extremely difficult. Despite these hazardous conditions, he carried on and located the source of the fire in one of the suites. A man sat next to a burning mattress, but he was unresponsive. Sergeant Leung entered the room and used his fire extinguisher to put out most of the fire. He grabbed the man by the arms and helped him into the hallway, where the sergeant was forced to the floor by the smoke. He was unable to carry the man further. Constables Tristan Roest and Riley Sidoni arrived and did not hesitate to enter the building. It was difficult to see and to breathe as they arrived on the second floor, where they found Sergeant Leung on the ground. They helped him to his feet and escorted him outside to the fresh air. Firefighters carried the unresponsive resident to safety and extinguished the remainder of the fire. All three officers suffered smoke inhalation. Sergeant Leung had the most severe effects and was treated by paramedics at the scene. For his decisive, life-saving actions, and dedication to public safety under extreme conditions, Sergeant Calvin Leung was awarded the Vancouver Police Department’s highest award for bravery, the Award of Valour. Read more award recipient stories: bit.ly/4fMsGdf #VPD2026CommendationCeremony

#VPDNews: The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) is investigating a commercial break-and-enter that occurred early Friday morning in the city’s downtown core. On September 4 at 6:45 a.m., VPD officers responded to a break-and-enter in progress at a business near Granville and Helmcken Street. A witness reported seeing a man smash the front window of the commercial property with a skateboard before stealing merchandise from inside. Officers arrived within minutes, but the suspect had already fled the area and was not located. While the stolen property is of relatively low financial value, the damage to the storefront is estimated to be over $1,000. Investigators have obtained CCTV footage of the incident and are actively working to identify the suspect. "The VPD shares the concerns of local business owners, workers, and residents regarding break-and-enters and street disorder in the downtown core," says Constable Darren Wong. "We remain committed to working alongside these businesses to ensure that Granville remains a safe, vibrant, and welcoming destination for all."

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A man arrested by @TransitPoliceBC on eight Canada-wide arrest warrants out of Saskatchewan remains in custody to face charges. transitpolice.ca/news-posts/…

#VPDNews: A 43-year-old man has pleaded guilty to indignity to human remains in connection with a 2023 Downtown Eastside homicide investigation. The investigation began on January 3, 2023, after Vancouver Fire Rescue Services responded to a suspicious outdoor fire near Powell Street and Raymur Avenue. Human remains were discovered, later identified as 34-year-old Jeff Jeanty. On August 10, 2026, Dustin Gastl was sentenced to three years in custody, to be served consecutively to an unrelated sentence he is currently serving.

#VPDNews: Vancouver Police have made an arrest after a teenager was shot in the neck with a BB gun Monday night. The victim was approached by several unknown suspects around 9:45 p.m. near Point Grey Secondary School. The group left the area and then returned, and one youth allegedly shot the victim. Police located and arrested the suspect nearby. During the arrest, officers seized a BB gun, a knife, and a can of bear spray. A violation ticket was issued in relation to possession of the bear spray. The victim was not seriously injured. The investigation remains ongoing and VPD will be submitting a report to Crown counsel.

#VPDNews: Vancouver Police have made an arrest after Crown counsel approved a second-degree murder charge in connection with a homicide on Granville Street late last year. James Christopher Holmgren, 35, was arrested yesterday by Vancouver Police Homicide Unit detectives. On November 17, 2025, the VPD was called to the area of Granville Street and Helmcken Street following reports of a man suffering from a stab wound. The victim, Aymen Al-Hafidh, was transported to hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Al-Hafidh was 20 years old at the time of his death. James Holmgren remains in custody.

VPD warns about phone scammers posing as senior police officers. Anybody who believes they have been the victim of a similar scam is advised to contact their financial institution immediately and notify their local police.

#VPDNews: Crown Counsel has approved one count of break-and-enter of a commercial business after Vancouver Police arrested a suspect yesterday. Just after 7 a.m., the Vancouver Police Department responded to a report of a broken window in a business near Georgia Street and Gore Avenue. An employee reported seeing a man smash the window and enter the premises. VPD officers attended and searched the building. After reviewing video footage, they believed the man was still inside. Another witness observed a man matching the description of the suspect on a second-storey fire escape. The officers located the man and took him into custody without incident. Raymond Chan, 28, has been charged with one count of break-and-enter.

#VPDNews: A 44-year-old man has been arrested and is under investigation for a possible hate crime following a series of violent incidents at a fast-food restaurant near Main Street and 2nd Avenue. On August 4, at approximately 9 a.m., a suspect was panhandling outside the restaurant when security guards asked him to leave the property. During the interaction, the man allegedly threw a cup, pushed a security guard, and yelled racist comments about the security guard’s ethnicity and religion. The suspect then allegedly struck the security guard and removed the security guard’s turban before leaving the area. A short time later, approximately one block away, the suspect allegedly approached another victim and demanded money while allegedly making threats. The victim complied and handed over cash. The suspect then allegedly struck the victim in the head and demanded more money. After providing additional cash, the victim was able to get away and call police. Officers quickly responded and tracked the suspect to a nearby residence. The suspect was arrested without incident and taken into custody. He has been released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later date. Police are recommending charges of assault and robbery. VPD patrol and hate crime officers continue their investigation. Anyone with additional information about the incidents is asked to call the Vancouver non-emergency line at 604-717-3321.

#VPDNews: Vancouver Police have identified and charged two suspects in connection with the violent robbery of a 75-year-old senior that was the subject of a media release issued last week. On July 30, officers conducting proactive patrols in the area observed a man believed to be involved in the robbery and arrested him without incident. On August 2, police responded to a report of an unwanted person inside a nearby residence. When officers arrived, they identified a second individual believed to be involved in the robbery and took him into custody. Kurt Werner Steinhauser, 43, and Andre Joseph Brunet, 40, have each been charged with one count of robbery. They both remain in custody awaiting a bail hearing.

#MediaRelease Transit Police make arrest after 78-year-old woman seriously injured in random assault in #surreybc transitpolice.ca/news-posts/… @TransitPoliceBC

#VPDNews: Vancouver Police arrested a woman wanted Canada-wide Monday night after receiving a tip from a member of the public. Shortly after 9:30 p.m. on July 27, VPD officers received information that Kelly Renee Stonechild, who was wanted for breaching her probation on a manslaughter charge, was seen around Clark Drive and East 12thAvenue. When officers attempted to arrest Stonechild, she refused to comply with their commands and allegedly reached into her waistband. Officers deployed a police dog to safely take her into custody without incident. Stonechild is currently in custody.

#VPDNews: Vancouver Police have arrested three men and seized drugs with an estimated street value of $86,000, along with $1,300 in cash, following an investigation in downtown Vancouver. VPD patrol officers initiated “Project Atlas” earlier this month after observing suspicious activity at the Murray Hotel at 1117 Hornby St. Officers executed a search warrant and seized: 344 grams of fentanyl 336 grams of cocaine 75 grams of methamphetamine Imitation firearm Various edged weapons The following three men were arrested, transported to jail, and released on an undertaking with an upcoming court date: A 37-year-old man from Surrey was arrested for possession for the purpose of trafficking. A 42-year-old man from Ontario was arrested for possession for the purpose of trafficking and obstructing a peace officer. A 46-year-old man from Vancouver was arrested for possession for the purpose of trafficking. "Project Atlas highlights the value of proactive policing from our officers. Their work resulted in the seizure of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine, helping to protect our community from the harms associated with drug trafficking." says Inspector Erin Roulston. The investigation is ongoing. File number: 2026-122400

#VPDNews: Vancouver Police are investigating a distraction theft after a 76-year-old woman was targeted by a stranger near East 11th Avenue and Victoria Drive on Tuesday afternoon. The senior was waiting for family members around 12:30 p.m. when she was approached by a woman who said she looked like her mother. The woman hugged her, saying it was her mothers’ birthday. During the encounter, the suspect allegedly removed the victim's gold necklace and replaced it with another necklace without the victim's knowledge. About 30 minutes later, the senior discovered her necklace, which had two gold rings attached to it, was missing. The female suspect is described as white, with olive skin, in her mid-30s, with a round face and short dark hair. A male suspect believed to have been driving the vehicle is described as white, with olive skin, in his mid-30s, with short dark hair and no facial hair. The suspect vehicle is described as a dark green four-door sedan. “Police are urging community members with elderly relatives to make sure their loved ones are aware these thefts are occurring, and to take steps to protect themselves,” says Constable Megan Lui. “Keep valuable jewelry hidden under clothing and do not let strangers approach you, even if they seem friendly and are offering gifts.” Anyone with information, dashcam footage, or home security video from the area of East 11th Avenue and Victoria Drive between 12:15 p.m. and 1 p.m. on Tuesday is asked to call the Vancouver Police Department. VPD File # 2026-126407

#VPDNews: A charge has been approved in a stranger assault investigation after the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) released video of an assault involving the same suspect last month. Dylan Gaita, 29, has been charged with assault in connection with an incident on June 28 that was reported to police after the VPD issued an appeal to the public. In the June 28 incident, a pedestrian was walking on Commercial Drive at Charles Street when Gaita allegedly shoulder-checked him, causing the pedestrian to lose his balance. The pedestrian reported the incident on July 4 after seeing the VPD news release issued on June 30. Dylan Gaita remains in custody.

#VPDNews: An assault charge has been approved against a man who has been involved in several incidents in the Granville Street Pedestrian Zone in recent weeks. At approximately 6:00 last night, officers patrolling the Granville Pedestrian Zone were approached by a woman who identified a man she said swung his fist in her direction. As officers approached to speak with him, they observed him try to punch another woman. The suspect fled from police, and was arrested following a brief foot chase. The man has been the subject of several complaints involving violence and confrontational behaviour in the Granville Pedestrian Zone.