A targeted hit in Surrey late Tuesday has left a man linked to the drug trade in hospital from a gunshot wound, according to police.

"This was a targeted attack and does have the earmarks of being gang related," said RCMP Sgt. Peter Thiessen in a statement.

The 28-year-old man was taken to hospital just after 10 p.m. after police responded to a "shots fired" call to the 8800 block of 131st Street in Surrey.

Sgt. Bill Whalen with the organized crime unit said the victim "has a number of criminal associations in Surrey," specifically in the drug trafficking trade.

"Which one of these criminal associations may have resulted in the incident, we're not really sure," he said.

Whalen added police do not yet consider the shooting linked to any "current gang dispute."