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| Founding location | Rexdale,Milliken District Park, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
|---|---|
| Territory | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Ethnicity | Tamils |
| Criminal activities | Extortion,arms trafficking,fraud,drug trafficking |
VVT was aCanadian Tamilstreet gang originating inToronto[1] believed to be named after the town ofValvettithurai in northernSri Lanka.[2]
VVT was founded in the early 1990s bySri Lankan Tamilimmigrants, who had fled because of the country'scivil war, and had a 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.[citation needed] The VVT were alleged to have members ranging in age from their early teenage years to men in their 30s, and with membership between 100 and 1000.[citation needed] In the mid 1990s to early 2000s, the VVT had an ongoing war with another Tamil gang called the AK Aannan based out of Scarborough. There was a brief truce in 1998 after community members brokered a peace deal in aRichmond Hill Hindu temple; however, a murder a year later renewed the fighting. VVT is behind many murders in the 1990s.[citation needed]
Even after the deportation of some prominent members, authorities believe this gang is still in operation through its younger generation. Police alleged VVT members were involved in drug trafficking, fraud, weapons trafficking, counterfeiting, and extortion. The gang is now considered largely inactive.[citation needed]