RCMP FIGHTS FRACTION OF ORGANIZED CRIME

Force Can Tackle 'Maybe A Third' Of Serious Criminals, Commissioner Says

The RCMP can't afford to fight the majority of organized crime
activity in Canada, Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli admitted yesterday.

"At this point in time, our best guess is that we're able to tackle
maybe a third of what we know is out there, in terms of serious
organized crime," he said, adding that is probably a generous estimate.

"And remember, when I say one-third, that's of what we know."

Although the Mounties' budget has doubled over the past seven years,
Commissioner Zaccardelli told the standing senate committee on
national security and defence he still has "serious issues to deal
with, in terms of resources."

Foes of the force include outlaw motorcycle groups and Italian,
Russian and Asian organized crime organizations, many of which are
well established at Canada's vulnerable land, sea and airport entries.

Committee chairman Colin Kenny pressed the commissioner to explain
why Canada has only about 100 Mounties to cover 89 airports across
the country, and just 30 officers patrolling 19 marine entry points.

Commissioner Zaccardelli said the force uses intelligence to identify
and target the most dangerous organizations, but, "given the
resources we have, and our limitations, we know there are groups that
we can't go after."

That terrorist groups appear to be increasingly involved in organized
crime activities makes the issue all the more troubling, he
suggested. "That is a trend that we're watching and monitoring and
has the potential to cause serious problems," he said.

Despite his complaints about lack of resources, Commissioner
Zaccardelli told the committee he is "very pleased" with the federal
budget last week.

The Tories pledged $37 million to expand the RCMP's training
facilities in Regina and $161 million for more police officers and
federal prosecutors. According to budget documents, the funding "will
enable the RCMP to fill 1,000 vacancies by 2010."

But testimony yesterday revealed that is an optimistic target.
Department of Justice officials are expected to snag about $25
million for new lawyers, leaving $136 million for police.

"We're looking at about $192,000 for a fully operational police
officer at the federal level," Commissioner Zaccardelli said, "so
when you start doing the math ..."

The math says 1,000 officers would cost $192 million, $56 million
more than has been committed. The commissioner said he was under the
impression the initial pledge was "to start getting us up there."

While the commissioner's testimony raised many questions, he brushed
by reporters after the hearing.

In an interview, Mr. Kenny said the fact the RCMP can touch on only
one-third of known organized crime in the country is a "big-time" concern.

"What about the other two-thirds?" he asked. "We've come out with
reports on ports and airports and on the border, and time and time
again we come back to the question of we don't have enough cops --
bottom line."

He also expressed concern regarding terrorist involvement in organized crime.

"(Narco-terrorists) come and they distribute drugs through Canada and
get a hell of a lot of dough for it," he said. "We have an incredible
distribution network that would put UPS to shame in terms of how
drugs are distributed across the country."

Commissioner Zaccardelli was spared questions regarding the recent
decision to arm Canada's border guards, a move he strongly opposed in the past.

He told a Senate committee last spring that while the border is a
dangerous place, "having a customs officer run out of his hut and
shoot after" criminals was the wrong move.

The comment enraged border union officials, who have long been
lobbying for more protection.

Mr. Kenny said the plan will be very costly to implement, however,
noting his first choice would have been to boost RCMP presence at
Canada's frontiers.