An RCMP dive team is in northern Manitoba to conduct an underwater search for two British Columbia murder suspects.

Manitoba RCMP say members of the force's underwater recovery team arrived Saturday night and will be searching a section of the Nelson River, northeast of Gillam, today.

The area has been the focus for more than a week in the hunt for Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, and Kam McLeod, 19, who are wanted in connection to the deaths of three people last month in B.C.

RCMP have not said what prompted them to search the river, but a spokesperson said they expect to release more information later Sunday.

The news comes after police said Wednesday they would be scaling back the search in the Gillam area, which is where the last confirmed sighting of the pair was more than a week ago.