VVT (gang)
Encyclopedia
VVT is a Tamil
gang
in Toronto
believed to be named after the Sri Lanka
n town of Valvettithurai
. It was founded in the early 1990s by Tamil immigrants. The VVT had a strong presence in the west end of Toronto (in particular in Etobicoke and certain areas in Old Toronto and East York) and was regarded as being very business savvy and motivated by the profits of crime. The VVT were considered to be highly organized with members ranging in age from their early teenage years to men in their 30s, with members from to 100-500 strong. In the mid to late 90's and early 2000s the VVT had an ongoing war with another powerful Tamil gang called the AK Kannan based out of Scarborough. There was a brief truce in 1998 after community members brokered a peace deal in a Richmond Hill
Hindu temple, however a murder a year later renewed the fighting.
VVT had multiple leaders who represent their respective territories throughout the GTA, Waterloo
, Hamilton
, Ottawa and Montreal. Even after the deportation of some prominent members, authorities believe this gang is still in operation through its younger generation. Police believe VVT members are heavily involved in drug trafficking, fraud, weapon trafficking, counterfeiting, and extortion. This gang is now considered defunct, however it is still present through younger generations.
Tamil Canadian
Tamil Canadian or Canadian Tamils are Canadians of Tamil ethnic origins mostly from India and Sri Lanka. It is estimated that the Tamil diaspora in Canada is around 200,000. From a population of fewer than 150 Tamils in 1983, it has become one of the largest visible minority population groups...
gang
Gangs in Canada
Gangs in Canada are mostly present in the major urban areas of Canada, although their activities are not confined to large cities.-Types:The most prevalent gangs in Canada include:* Street gangs* Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
believed to be named after the Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n town of Valvettithurai
Valvettithurai
Valvettithurai or VVT is a small coastal village on the northeast coast of the Jaffna Peninsula in Sri Lanka's north. The population is mainly minority Sri Lankan Tamils of Hindu or Catholic faith. The main industry is farming, fishing and trading...
. It was founded in the early 1990s by Tamil immigrants. The VVT had a strong presence in the west end of Toronto (in particular in Etobicoke and certain areas in Old Toronto and East York) and was regarded as being very business savvy and motivated by the profits of crime. The VVT were considered to be highly organized with members ranging in age from their early teenage years to men in their 30s, with members from to 100-500 strong. In the mid to late 90's and early 2000s the VVT had an ongoing war with another powerful Tamil gang called the AK Kannan based out of Scarborough. There was a brief truce in 1998 after community members brokered a peace deal in a Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Richmond Hill is a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, being located about halfway between Toronto and Lake Simcoe...
Hindu temple, however a murder a year later renewed the fighting.
VVT had multiple leaders who represent their respective territories throughout the GTA, Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
, Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, Ottawa and Montreal. Even after the deportation of some prominent members, authorities believe this gang is still in operation through its younger generation. Police believe VVT members are heavily involved in drug trafficking, fraud, weapon trafficking, counterfeiting, and extortion. This gang is now considered defunct, however it is still present through younger generations.