ASIAN GANGS CONTROL AREA DRUG TRADE

Asian gangs are increasingly controlling the tide of heroin and
cocaine in and around the Kamloops region, RCMP reports show.

"We believe that they are trafficking in heroin and cocaine in this
area, yes. Proving it is another issue," said Cpl. Al Wright, with
the RCMP's Southeast District detachment in Kamloops.

Wright was reluctant to discuss details, as some "significant
investigations" would be harmed should the information be released
publicly.

According to the Criminal Intelligence Service of Canada (CISC),
Vietnamese gangs, with some support from other organized crime groups,
control the drug trade in the region.

The discovery is surprising because Kamloops does not have a
significant Asian population.

But CISC officials say Vietnamese gangs are among the most violent and
fastest-growing criminal organizations in B.C.

Wright said the RCMP are aware of three groups in the region that have
a grip on the illegal drug trade, including Asian-based gangs,
Indo-Canadian gangs and outlaw motorcycle groups. The region stretches
from Williams Lake south to Merritt.

As for who or which group is the most prevalent, Wright said that
hasn't been determined.

Although both heroin and cocaine use has increased in the past decade,
neither has reached epidemic proportions in the Kamloops region.
Wright said the quality of heroin, for instance, has increased, which
is one reason why police are seeing more overdoses.

"We're here to simply try and stop the trade in these drugs. We deal
with it as a problem," he added.

Corp. Al Soneff of Kamloops RCMP said Asian gangs in themselves are
not a problem in the city.

"We've never had a problem with them, it's just not an issue in
Kamloops," he added.