'INDEPENDENT' CRIME GROUPS MOVING MORE DRUGS BETWEEN ISLAND AND U.S.

NANAIMO (CNS) - RCMP say they are seeing a number of very active,
independent crime groups moving large amounts of drugs between
Nanaimo and the U.S.

Cpl. Kirby Anderson, head of the Nanaimo RCMP's criminal-intelligence
team, said this is in addition to known outlaw motorcycle gangs and
Asian gang activity.

"A lot of these independents are guys who've flown under the radar
for years," Anderson said.

But he said the "independents" do, from time to time, work with
established crime groups, such as the Hells Angels. Anderson said
these groups have contacts and resources that independent crime
operators may not have to make international drug deals happen.

Last week, the province seized the local Hells Angels clubhouse,
almost four years after police raided the building for evidence in a
drug investigation.

While organized crime groups have traditionally swapped B.C.
marijuana in the U.S. for cocaine to bring back to Canada, Anderson
said criminals are also bringing in large amounts of crystal meth and firearms.

"That's a real concern we have here," he said. "I think there's more
of a fear of potential violence."