Kamloops RCMP Serious Crimes Unit have made arrests in the gang related murder of a Kamloops man just over a year ago.

Troy Gold disappeared Oct. 3, 2018 and early in the investigation it was believed to a be a targeted homicide that was related to the local drug trade. Gold’s remains were found in Lac Du Bois later that month.

Facing charges of second degree murder are Nathan Anthony Townsend, 23, Jayden Michael Eustache, 24, Darian Fredrick Rohel, 44, John Wade Daviss, 38 and Sean Gavril Scurt, 46. All five suspects are from Kamloops and are known by to Kamloops RCMP to be involved in the Kamloops drug trade.

In a release, Staff Sgt Simon Pillay, with the Kamloops RCMP Serious Crime Unit, says “crimes that occur in the drug underworld present unique challenges for investigators. In this community even victims and their friends refuse to co-operate with police.

“While our investigative teams are very skilled at obtaining co-operation and evidence needed to advance these types of cases, even long standing participants in the local drug trade found Troy’s death be grossly unnecessary and many people were more willing to co-operate because of this.”

Pillay added that it took the work of many to bring charges against the suspects. “It was with the co-operation of several important witnesses, traditional and non-traditional investigative techniques, support from other teams, units and agencies and endless determination that we have brought this case to this stage.”

The Staff Sergeant has very direct message to members of the illicit narcotics business, “I hope this serves as a lesson to drug traffickers in our community that violence, regardless of whom it occurs to, will not be tolerated and the Kamloops RCMP remain committed to holding those responsible accountable.”