"We see our young people … usually (between) the ages of about 16 and 22 … that is where the bulk of our street-level drug dealers are in that range," an anti-gang official said.

B.C.'s leading anti-gang police unit said the ongoing gang war within the province has changed dramatically over the past few years with foot soldiers getting younger and younger.

The development of new technology is taken advantage of by B.C. organized crime groups and gangs, according to B.C.'s anti-gang task force.

According to experts, kids as young as 12 years old are being identified by gangs to be recruited – they target kids that appear to be misfits or those with rough home lives.

Anti-gang police in B.C. say work being done to educate and prevent children from joining gangs is the most important work that can be done in combating the B.C. gang conflict.