ORGANIZED CRIME ON THE RISE IN LEDUC

With the Alberta economy booming and everybody racing to cash in on
the investments and take home the prize, there's another group of
individuals cashing in on the Alberta dream -- organized crime gangs.

Gangs, not in the terms of 'Hollywood' types wearing oversized
clothing fighting over geographical territories, but groups of people
who mimic the 'average Joe' residing in the Leduc area for the purpose
of enterprise and drug trafficking.

"Organized crime is growing in the area by virtue of the fact that
along with the prosperity the area is seeing, comes the increase (in
organized crime) which is closely related to what the economy is
doing," said Insp. Dario Cecchin, from the Leduc RCMP detachment.

"Gangs, the stereotypical types, don't exist here. But what we do have
is organized crime where the main activity is drugs."

Cecchin said, with the majority of people having disposable incomes,
the problem seems to be escalating.

"Organized crime is fluent here like every other city. We should all
be concerned. We don't see gangs, but what we do see is influence from
other cities and areas of our country trafficking in our area," he
explained. "This is not just a Leduc phenomenon. Organized crime in
this day and age is as global as the Internet and can operate
anywhere. We are not being overrun by organized crime, but it exists
in the shadows."

Cecchin said although he can't provide statistics on gangs operating
in the area, he does assure the RCMP isn't taking this issue lightly.

He described the RCMP's major weapon to combat this growing problem is
the implementation of a, "three-pronged approach."

"Education is our first approach. We run the D.A.R.E. program in all
Leduc and Leduc County schools which fall under our department's
jurisdiction," said Cecchin, adding the feedback they've received so
far validates the fact the program, "has been essential in giving
youth the tools to deal with the pressures of addictions."

Mobilizing the public and establishing a Drug Action Committee, which
increases community involvement is the second important factor in
erasing the problem, he explained. And, the final approach: aggressive
enforcement.

"We have a six-member investigative unit which is a large part of
doing drug investigations on a regional level," he said.

"Drug trafficking is not in Leduc. A drug trafficker in Leduc will
have connections and impact other communities like Beaumont and Devon."

Cecchin said, while Leduc RCMP officers have been successful in
driving out a portion of drug traffickers from the area, the public
should be as vigilant as it can be to report property crimes.

"A large percentage of crime, especially property crime, is in fact
associated to drugs. Where we have individuals who participate in
these crimes to sustain (the drug trade), we need the public to report
property crimes," said Cecchin. "Our drug section has been busy doing
work and in fact have driven out people who have had home bases in
Leduc and district. But it's not stopping people from driving in."