Tourists welcome, but gangsters stay away from Okanagan: RCMP warn

KELOWNA, B.C. – Mounties in Kelowna, B.C., are warning gang members and their associates that they aren’t welcome in the Okanagan this summer.

In an open letter, Supt. Nick Romanchuk says gangs from B.C. and Alberta often spend time in the area during the summer, bringing illegal drugs and possibly gang-related violence.

Romanchuk says there will be zero tolerance for offences involving gangs this summer.

Police will be working with other agencies to fight the gang presence and they’re bringing in a program to remove gangsters from bars, restaurants and hotels.

Romanchuk says they’ll also be working with police from Alberta because they’ve noticed an increase in gang members from that province.

Red Scorpion gang leader Jonathan Bacon was killed outside the Delta Grand Hotel in Kelowna in August 2011 when his vehicle was sprayed with bullets.

(CKIZ, CKFR)