LONDON AT CENTRE OF BIKER TURF BATTLE

The territory-hungry Hells Angels and the never-say-die Outlaws are
preparing for battle over the lucrative drug market of Southwestern
Ontario.

No one knows if it'll be a full-blown war or just a few skirmishes.
But it's clear from police and criminal sources that two of the
biggest motorcycle gangs in the world are recruiting new members as
weaker clubs falter in Southwestern Ontario.

And London, the largest urban centre in the region, is key to the struggle.

"We're all very concerned about what kind of violent fallout there
will be," said Insp. Marty Van Doren, commander of the London RCMP
detachment.

The strength of biker gangs in Canada is growing faster than
legislators and police can keep up. In a three-part series starting
today, Sun Media examines the power of the gangs and shifting
allegiances that could bring violence to Canadian communities.

Part one begins today with a look at Southwestern Ontario (next story).

The region presents a perfect combination for biker conflict -- a
lucrative drug market no one dominates, a power vacuum created by
weakened local gangs and the growing power of the Hells Angels in the
face of their longstanding rivals, the Outlaws.

"The landscape has changed," said OPP Staff Sgt. Don Bell of the
province's special biker squad. "We're all waiting to see what
happens."