Police have launched a crackdown on a compassion club in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside with a stated goal of providing a safe – but unsanctioned – drug supply amid the city's ongoing overdose crisis.

The Vancouver Police Department announced Thursday that officers have arrested two people after executing search warrants at the Drug User Liberation Front office on Hastings Street, as well as two homes on the city’s east side.

Speaking at a news conference, Insp. Phil Heard of the VPD’s Organized Crime Section acknowledged DULF’s harm-reduction efforts while also stating that the organization has “publicly admitted to trafficking controlled substances, including heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamines.”

“We understand the magnitude of the ongoing overdose crisis and the impact drug toxicity deaths have in communities throughout the province, including here in Vancouver,” said Heard.

  • willybe@lemmy.ca
    10·
    1 year ago

    Now DULF gets their day in court. That’s good news. These laws are harming and killing Canadians who are seeking to ease their pain. DULF was non profit, and they proved that safe drug supply works. They are doing the hard work for us. Get your pocket books ready, we’re going to court.

    According to DULF’s data, no one who is part of their program has overdosed using the drugs they’ve provided.

    They also have claimed DULF has stopped $100,000 from going to gangs in BC by providing the drugs themselves.

    DULF has worked with a variety of other organizations as well, and is a contractor with Vancouver Coastal Health providing overdose prevention training, harm reduction help, and drug checking. At the direction of the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Jennifer Whiteside, that $200,000 per year contract is ending Oct. 31.

    From: https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/vancouver-police-arrest-two-people-associated-with-drug-advocacy-group-that-hands-out-free-illicit-drugs-7741035