ORGANIZED CRIME HERE

Aboriginal-based gangs that tend to recruit youth to create the next
generation of members remain a major factor in organized crime in
Saskatchewan, according to a report by Canada's criminal intelligence service.

The gangs regularly recruit from the aboriginal population in both large
and small communities, correctional institutions and on reserves, the
report said.

"As a result, these aboriginal youth will be at greater risk of being
involved in gang violence and activities, posing harm to themselves and
their communities," it said.

Cpl. Brian Jones, spokesperson for the RCMP in Saskatchewan, said the
report serves to bring issues to the public's attention as well as direct
law enforcement to where they can have the best effect.

"The purpose of this report is to solidify the information that we have
about criminal activity in Saskatchewan, in Canada. When you know what the
problem is, then you can best come up with plans to address it," said Jones.

"For a long time (gang activity) was something that wasn't talked about,
but if you talk about it and we share the information that we have, people
can put the issues in perspective."

The report identifies the primary aboriginal-based gangs in Saskatchewan as
the Native Syndicate in Regina and the Indian Posse in Saskatoon, along
with a number of smaller street gangs in the province.

The information gathered by Criminal Intelligence Service Canada said the
aboriginal-based gangs' capability to plan and commit large-scale criminal
activities is low, but they tend to use violence, posing a threat to public
safety.

The gangs are generally involved in "opportunistic, spontaneous" criminal
activity, primarily low-level trafficking of marijuana, cocaine and crack
cocaine, as well as prostitution, break-and-enters, robberies, assaults,
intimidation and vehicle theft, the report said.

Activity from the gangs was also found to support criminal activity for
other organized crime groups, particularly the Hells Angels and Asian-based
networks, which supply the gangs with illicit drugs.

The Hells Angels -- which have a presence in both of Saskatchewan's major
cities -- use the lower-level gangs to conceal its criminal activities from
law enforcement, the report said.

The report also looked at the sexual exploitation of children, noting that
technological advances are continuing to increase the availability of child
pornography in Canada. Child prostitution, while more frequently reported
in large urban centres such as Toronto and Vancouver, has also been cited
in Saskatchewan and various other provinces, and has been linked to some
street gangs.

Criminal Intelligence Service Canada has 380 member agencies, which include
federal, provincial, regional and municipal police departments as well as
various law enforcement, intelligence and regulatory agencies.