CRIMINALS 'LIKE RATS' THREATEN OUR SECURITY

Gangsters Are Making Crime Pay Big In B.C.

From marijuana grow-ops to money laundering, organized criminal gangs are
loving the ease of doing business on the West Coast, police say.

"Organized crime is a very, very serious threat to this country," RCMP
commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli told reporters as Canada's senior
policemen gathered in Vancouver Friday to release their latest report on
organized crime.

"There are serious organizations, and people in those organizations, who
want to do serious harm in this country. The safety and security we know in
this country is threatened."

Asian, Eastern European, Italian and outlaw motorcycle gangs pimp
prostitutes and peddle child pornography, run B.C.'s drugs, smuggle people
in and out, steal, and defraud billions.

"A lot of organized crime groups are like rats. When you shine a light on
them, they don't work very well," said Vancouver Police Chief Jamie Graham,
who is urging the public to pay attention.

Marijuana grow-ops yield massive profits, which are often routed into other
criminal activity, Graham said, pointing as well to the "inordinately high
number of illegal aliens" involved in drug activity on Vancouver streets.

"When an individual arrives here and gets involved in criminal activity,
the individual has to be returned [to their homeland]," he argued.

Vancouver's seaports, airports and borders are being used to move people,
drugs and guns, with gangs often using corrupt employees to move the
contraband, police say.

Edgar MacLeod, president of the Canadian Association of Police Chiefs,
which meets in Vancouver this week, said police are making progress in
their fight against organized crime.

"We are moving towards integrating all of our police officers so we can
tackle this one," he said. "We need the support of Canadians."

MacLeod said that all three levels of government need to join in the
battle, especially with tougher laws on wiretaps and DNA evidence.

"We need them talking together to support the efforts of the police."

B.C.GANGS

Asian-based Organized Crime: Credit-card fraud, illegal gaming, loan
sharking, prostitution, people smuggling, drugs.

Eastern European-based Organized Crime:

Fraud, stolen luxury vehicles, drug trafficking, extortion, prostitution,
money laundering, people smuggling.

Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs:

Prostitution, fraud, extortion, drug trafficking (marijuana, cocaine and
methamphetamine).

Traditional (Italian-based) Organized Crime:

Drug trafficking, marijuana grow-ops, illegal gaming, bookmaking,
extortion, white-collar crime, stock market manipulation.

- -- 2004 report on organized crime in Canada, Criminal Intelligence Service
Canada