DRUG TURF WAR BEHIND VIOLENCE

Young, organized criminals are pulling the trigger in "the majority of
shootings" in Calgary, says Alberta's solicitor general.

And the driving force behind an escalating level of violence around
the province is a struggle to control drug turf and collect drug
debts, Harvey Cenaiko said Tuesday.

Deadly eruptions can occur over debts of as little as $200 or $300, he
said.

"If the life of a 17-year-old is worth 300 bucks, there's a problem in
society," he said.

Alberta is "losing young kids every day to addiction of drugs and the
violence," said Cenaiko, noting the callous nature of these young criminals.

"Life means nothing to them . . . The level of violence concerns me a
great deal," said Cenaiko, Calgary-Buffalo MLA and a former Calgary
policeman.

That violence plays out in the streets or is unleashed in bars in
which gang members vie to control drug activity.

The province is committed to combatting organized crime and gang
violence, said Cenaiko.

"These individuals don't stay in Calgary. They are travelling on the
road and selling their product," he said.

"We have to provide a co-ordinated response where we can utilize
police officers from all services in the province."

Cenaiko said the aim is to "dismantle and disrupt organized
crime."

He convinced the government to fund 60 law enforcement officials from
the RCMP and municipal services who will soon be added to the
organized crime team.

A 51-member Integrated Response to Organized Crime team is already in
place.

"The government is taking steps that other provinces haven't yet. It's
just a start," promised Cenaiko.

Organized crime groups recruit youths of all ages and ethnic groups to
distribute illegal drugs, says the 2004-05 Criminal Intelligence
Service Alberta Report.

The illegal activity sparks acts of "deliberate violence" that show
"reckless disregard" for the public, said CISA director Insp. Harv
Emter.

"Somebody will eventually get shot by a stray bullet," warned
Emter.

It may have already happened.

Calgary police are investigating the murder of 21-year-old Sophorn
Kim, ambushed on a city street on Saturday.

Bullets were sprayed from a semi-automatic weapon when Kim was leaving
the Max Bell Arena in a vehicle with friends. Shell casing littered
the road that led to Barlow Trail.

Kim is not believed to have gang ties.

However, the homicide unit is working with the gang enforcement team
to determine if this was gang-related.

Guns were used in four of the 11 homicides in Calgary this
year.

There have been numerous other incidents involving
gunfire.

Three of the 16 homicides this year in Edmonton have been
gun-related.

Eight of those homicides are confirmed gang-related.

"When a shooting happens out on the street, it bothers everybody,"
said Emter, urging the public to keep the level of risk in
perspective.

The dangers swirling around the illegal drug activity gangs are
immersed in are more ominous, he said.

Emter pointed to drug use itself and the numerous hazards associated
with grow-ops and meth labs.

"That's where people are getting hurt more."

Meanwhile, Calgary Ald. Andre Chabot said Kim's slaying, on the heels
of a gang-related shooting death in Ward 10, is "extremely
disconcerting."

On May 20, Peter Huynh, 19, was sitting in his car at the Turbo gas
station at 44th Street and 8th Avenue S.E. when a masked gunman shot
him five times at close range.

"There is something going on here and I want to know what it's about.
It's not something that's been typical of the ward," he said.

Chabot noted that police continue to crack down on drug houses in the
ward, resulting in fewer profits for dealers, which can lead to more
violence.