HELLS ANGELS USE GUNPLAY TO INSTIL FEAR

Spike in gang-related violence in Winnipeg typical takeover tactic, Quebec
police say

THE sudden spike in gang-related violence gripping Winnipeg is part of a
pattern of fear typically used by the Hells Angels when they set up shop in
a new town.

"They don't like competition,'' explained Michel Martin, public affairs
spokesman for the Sherbrooke, Que., police department. "If someone tries to
step on their turf, they are clear: 'Go away or die!' "

Martin said the Hells Angels arrived on the Sherbrooke scene nearly 20 years
ago and quickly dealt with smaller gangs who were trying to assert
themselves in the drug trade.

In the first two months of the Angels' existence in Sherbrooke, there were
eight murders police attribute directly to the gang's quest for control of
drugs, bars and prostitution in the small city.

Today, Sherbrooke, with a population of 100,000 people, has the dubious
distinction of being home to the largest Hells Angels chapter in Canada, but
Martin said public displays of criminal activity are now rare.

"Once they made their presence known and got rid of the competition, things
got quiet,'' he said.

In Red Deer, Alta., the Hells Angels absorbed local street gangs about three
years ago.

Since then, police have stood warily by while the world's largest criminal
organization hosted two large gatherings in the small city.

The level of violence and drug activity has gone up in Red Deer.

"A week ago, there was an individual assaulted and shot in the leg as a
result of drugs and the possession of stolen property,'' RCMP Const. Dan
Doyle said.

"Since the patch-over, we've seen more incidents of different types of
violence and we're seeing drugs like crack cocaine and ecstasy showing up
for the first time. Everything we know points in their direction -- it's
more than a coincidence."

But Martin said that although police are often certain some crimes are
perpetrated by biker gangs, securing an arrest and conviction is difficult.

"We know the target,'' he said. "But they're smart. The people we arrest are
the people around them."

The Hells Angels set up shop in Winnipeg last summer after absorbing the Los
Brovos motorcycle gang.

Martin said it's typical to see the Hells Angels use young members of small
street gangs to tote the guns and deliver the drugs.

The Angels use those street-level gangs to recruit new members and as a
proving ground for those wanting to gain full membership in the Angels, he
said.

When the Hells Angels come to town, it provides local police with a clear
target when they're dealing with violent incidents, drug trafficking and
prostitution, but the main players can prove elusive.

Doyle said if and when the Hells Angels take control of Winnipeg's drug
trade, the police will have their work cut out for them.

"They generally have a more sophisticated operation,'' he said. "And those
who are victimized are extremely hesitant to talk."

Since the beginning of December, Winnipeg police have had their hands full
investigating seven gang-related shootings in the city's core.

Police attribute the flurry of violence and gunplay to a turf war over the
city's cocaine trade, which sources maintain is controlled by the Hells
Angels.

Insp. Gary Walker of the Winnipeg Police Service vice division said local
police have a good idea which group is behind the recent spate of shootings,
but are facing an upward battle when it comes to getting people to talk.

"That's the nature of this kind of case,'' he said, adding the police
service is focusing on the shootings. "Knowledge of the main players doesn't
make it easier. In fact, with high-profile gangs comes intimidation and
increased violence and we're seeing that in these cases."

But Walker said prolonging a high-profile, bloody turf war isn't something
any gang wants to do.

"It's not good for business," Walker said. "The heat that accompanies this
level of violence isn't attractive to them."

The Criminal Intelligence Service of Canada, in its 2000 report, says the
Hells Angels remain one of the most powerful and well-structured criminal
organizations in Canada.

They have 18 chapters across Canada and are currently expanding into
Ontario.