QUENNELL TO SEEK CRIME-FIGHTING RESOURCES

REGINA -- Fighting organized crime requires more resources and
increased co-ordination from the national government, provincial
Justice Minister Frank Quennell said Monday as he prepared for a
national meeting on organized crime.

The meeting of federal, provincial and territorial justice ministers
will be held in Toronto from Thursday to Saturday.

Quennell, who will attend with Corrections and Public Safety Minister
Warren McCall, said major issues for Saskatchewan relating to
organized crime include prostitution and drug trafficking.

Related issues such as human trafficking and the counterfeiting of
products, including drugs, require increased attention at the national
level, Quennell said.

"I think it's to kick-start some discussions that may be lagging at
the national level and to talk about what the provinces are doing
individually that could be assisted by more co-ordination, by better
working relationships," he said.

"I think it would involve for the country more national involvement
and co-ordination in programming and commitment of resources to areas
that are of national interest." The last annual report on organized
crime by Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC), released last
August, indicated there were 21 street gangs -- with approximately
1,500 members -- now operating in the province.

Most are members of aboriginal gangs, but biker gangs and some Asian
and independent gangs are also operating in Saskatchewan. Drug and
weapons trafficking, petty street crime, the sex trade, fraud and
money laundering are all cited as organized crime activities.

Quennell said he's not going to the conference with a laundry list of
specific demands, such as changes to the Criminal Code.

"This is more about ensuring that the national RCMP and local police
services, federal prosecutors and Crown prosecutors are all working
together as effectively as possible," he said.

Local police forces and the RCMP work together against organized crime
in the province as part of the Criminal Intelligence Service
Saskatchewan, one of nine provincial bureaus that make up the CISC.