RCMP REVIVES ORGANIZED CRIME SECTION

Mounties are escalating their fight against organized crime in
northern B.C., the RCMP's top brass says. With the addition of
another officer last month, the North District's criminal
intelligence section (CIS) now has two officers investigating crime
rings, said Supt. Mike Morris. That might not seem like much in the
way of resources, but until last October the district didn't have a
unit to deal solely with organized crime.

``It's just an area we were a little deficient in. There's a lot
going on in the northern half of the province as far as organized
crime goes, and we have to stay on top of it,'' Morris said.

A previous unit was disbanded in the 1980s due to cutbacks, but over
the past five years Morris said he's fought to revive the section.

Organized crime is a ``significant'' problem in northern B.C., he
said. ``It's an increasing problem. We've noticed increasing activity
every year for the past several years.''

Organized crime describes illegal schemes planned and executed by a
group, the proceeds of which are shared among the members. Crime
rings can range from complex mafia-style hierarchies to outlaw
motorcycle gangs and more casual clusters. They have been involved in
many types of offences, but drug production and trafficking, major
thefts, prostitution and intimidation are among the most common, said
Cpl. Gerry Marshinew, who heads the CIS unit. In the North, outlaw
motorcycle gangs account for much of the organized crime, he said.
``They are a force to be reckoned with and are getting bigger and
stronger.''

Smaller communities are also being infiltrated by crime groups,
Marshinew said. For example, the local drug trafficker, who isn't
necessarily a member of a criminal organization, may have obtained
drugs that were distributed by a crime group, he said.

Morris said crime groups generate millions of dollars each year
through their illegal activities. Compared with the CIS, which
receives

250,000 a year in funding, the sides are unevenly matched, he said.

The CIS plays a co-ordinating role, receiving information on
organized crime, investigating and analyzing the data, then
disseminating the intelligence to other RCMP units, which are
responsible for enforcement, Marshinew said. Prior to the
establishment of the unit, intelligence gathering was done by various
units during the course of their other investigations, Morris said.
``No doubt our success rate in tracking down and prosecuting
organized crime groups will improve.'' He said he hopes the unit will
help police identify some of the big players in organized crime.

To create the CIS, Morris said RCMP arranged to transfer a position
from southern B.C. and one from the Tumbler Ridge detachment, which
didn't require as many officers once the Quintette Coal mine closed
and the population dwindled.

One position is funded by the province, while the other is paid by
the federal government.