A high level RCMP news conference in Cranbrook Wednesday revealed that a feud between two factions of organized crime in the city is likely behind four arrests in a complex murder conspiracy case that landed in court this week.

The feud is also likely behind a late evening shooting that occurred in front of the Sam Steele Hotel Oct. 29, 2009 and may even be linked to the gunshot murder of a Mayook couple in May 2010.

"Organized crime is insidious and has no rules, morals, ethics or loyalty. No community is immune, either from the presence of organized crime or the violence that it perpetrates," said Sgt. Shinder Kirk of the RCMP Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit in Kelowna (CFSEU).

The unit took the lead in the investigation that led to charges of conspiracy to commit murder and three other related offences against Lonnie James Adams, 33, Colin Raymond Correia, 33, Lorne William Murray Carry, 28 and Chad Everett Munroe, 33.

All four accused are now in custody and awaiting further court appearances. Kirk said the four are known drug traffickers in the Cranbrook area and there was high potential for violence in the investigation. An AK-47 automatic weapon was seized from a Cranbrook residence early in the investigation.

"These arrests and the seizure of several weapons will go a long way to reduce the threat to the public and police officers alike," said Kirk.

The internecine nature of the various crimes now being investigated by the police can be seen by the fact that one of the four, Munroe, was the person shot during the Sam Steele shooting, And one of the assailants charged in connection with the Same Steele shooting, Doug Mahon, may have been living in the Mayook cabin prior to the double murder that took the lives of Leanne MacFarlane, 43, and Jeffrey Taylor who had been living in the rental property for three months.

"During the course of this investigation, two innocent victims lost their lives. While we can't speculate on the motive behind that tragedy, the intended victim, a 39 year old Cranbrook man, was once an occupant of the home," said Kirk.

It's believed the double murder has significant links to organized crime groups and gangs in southern B.C. and Alberta as well to an outlaw motorcycle group in metro Vancouver, he said

Cpl. Jason Smart of the Kelowna Major Section said the Mayook investigation is continuing and police are appealing for help from the public. Anyone with any information about the case is asked to call (250) 417-4232 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Cranbrook Mayor Scott Manjak joined the police at the news conference and thanked them for the work they were doing to ensure the safety of the city's residents. "Organized crime is not specific to the Lower Mainland," said the mayor.

Inspector Brian Edmondson, officer in command of the Cranbrook and Kimberley detachments, also attended the news conference and issued a warning to the criminal gangs operating in Cranbrook.

"This type of activity is unacceptable in our community. I have not only committed resources from the Cranbrook detachment, but can also draw on the combined resources from across the province. This is a message to those that engage in crime that not only do they have to be concerned about their rivals, but also the united efforts of law enforcement."

Pat Fogarty, CFSEU Operations Officer, said there are at least 120 criminal drug gangs operating in the province so it's not surprising that some are operating in Cranbrook.

"The issue of gangs and organized crime is not just an urban problem that you see in places like Metro Vancouver. These groups attempt to gain control of the lucrative drug market no matter where that market may be."

Local RCMP Corp. Chris Faulkner said many Cranbrook residents don't realize the extent of the drug scene in the city and the nature of the people involved. Cocaine is often the drug of choice and consumers include street people, but regular citizens as well not usually thought of as being part of the drug scene, he said.

"That's why we have drug addiction centres. That's why we have first response units at hospitals and treatment centres to pick up these people as their lives deteriorate and they're left behind. They're ordinary people that we live beside, work beside and go to hockey games. All these people may be consumers to some degree.

"I can assure you through the intelligence we receive and the observations we make on surveillance we do on some of the players that we do see Joe Ordinary Cranbrook citizens as consumers."