ORGANIZED AND HIGH-TECH

Vancouver Is One Of Canada's Three Criminal Hubs

Metro Vancouver is one of three Canadian hubs for organized crime,
crime that is becoming more sophisticated and high-tech, according to
a report by Canada's spy agency.

Criminal Intelligence Service Canada's 2008 report identified 900
gangs across Canada and found the drug trade remains the largest
criminal activity.

In B.C. alone, marijuana and grow operations generate $6 billion in
revenue every year, said RCMP B.C. spokesman Sgt. Tim Shields.

He said gangs are also involved in crystal meth, cocaine and heroin
trafficking, identity theft, credit-card fraud, prostitution, gun
smuggling, human trafficking and money laundering.

He said violent crime linked to gangs, such as public shootings,
kidnappings and murders of other gang members and innocent
bystanders, is alarming.

"They think nothing of selling drugs to our children, taking
advantage of our elderly or opening fire in neighbourhoods," said
Shields in a release.

He said there are more than 17 police units and government agencies
in B.C. working to combat organized crime.

But he said in an interview police can't solve these problems without
help from family members of gangsters.

"There are hundreds if not thousands of people who have information
that's vital to solving large-scale crimes who haven't come forward,"
said Shields.

He said parents of young males who show up driving a Hummer or who is
taking frequent trips to Mexico should start asking questions about
how he's making his money.

He urged those who know a friend or relative involved in gangs not to
turn a blind eye to their activities and to call police or
CrimeStoppers to report it.

The CSIS report said marijuana is one of the most trafficked illegal
drugs in Canada, the production of methamphetamines is rising to meet
international demand and Canada is a primary source of ecstasy for
the world's drug trade.

Because of record-high opium production in Afghanistan, opium
seizures in Canada have risen sharply, even though the heroin trade
is relatively low compared to other drugs.

Human smuggling is also on the rise, the report found.

The drug notes organized criminals are increasingly becoming involved
in financial crimes, such as mortgage fraud, smuggling illegal
cigarettes, mass marketing fraud, which is worth $500 million a year
and increasingly using fake cheques and money orders to defraud victims.

Debit-card fraud, which includes wireless technology that allows
thieves to relay victims' personal information to people in cars
nearby a store and eventually to international card factories.

Electronic money systems also help the crooks to launder ill-gotten
gains and the Internet is used more and more to trade guns.

And there have been 10,000 reported complaints of identity theft in
2007, equalling more than $6 million, and officials think that's a
small fraction of the actual incidents because a lot of people don't report it.