Two members of a Vancouver “harm reduction” group that was receiving government funding were arrested after a police investigation uncovered the group was providing heroin, cocaine, and meth to clients.
“This group has knowingly operated illegally in the Downtown Eastside and we have now taken action to stop it.”
The release said DULF “has publicly admitted to trafficking controlled substances such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamines.”
DULF’s office in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, along with two East Vancouver homes, were searched by police. Police will consider criminal charges once they have completed their investigation, the release said.
Government Funding
B.C.’s ruling NDP, which has provided funding to DULF through Vancouver Coastal Health, was questioned about the arrests during the legislative sitting Oct. 26.“Tax dollars given to them by the NDP enabled the Drug Users Liberation Front to buy heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine from organized crime on the dark web,” Mr. Falcon said. He asked if the NDP would cooperate with the police investigation.
NDP MLA and Minister for Public Safety Mike Farnworth said the funding was given through a contract awarded by Vancouver Coastal Health “for the testing of drugs for overdose prevention and assisting people and helping people in preventing them from dying.”
“In no way, shape, or form were any of those funds intended for the purchase of illegal drugs,” he said, adding that the contract has since been cancelled.
“This government fully expects that when a contract is awarded for a specific purpose—in this case, to save lives, to prevent overdoses—the terms and conditions of that contract are followed and when they weren’t, and when the government found out, the contract was immediately cancelled.”
Support for DULF
VANDU, which partners with DULF, said it stands behind the actions of Mr. Nyx and Mr. Kalicum.They called the actions a “war on our community” and said they would stand with DULF.
“DULF saves lives,” the organization said.
VANDU pointed to self-collected data on the 35 percent reduction of overdoses due to the safe supply of the drugs DULF was selling. There were 50 percent fewer hospitalizations and 48 percent fewer police interactions by those who joined DULF’s “compassion club.”
VANDU’s letter says humanity has a “moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws,” adding that “you can jail a revolutionary but you cannot jail a revolution.”
