CRIMINALS TRY TO GET ALONG

Money Fuels Co-Operation

While some street gangs battle for turf, a share of the drug trade or
because of hatred, there's a "you scratch my back and I'll scratch
yours" kind of harmony in some circles of Winnipeg's ever-evolving
organized crime underworld.

In an emerging trend, some groups who you'd think would be rivals
associate with each other and act like business partners, primarily
to bring large amounts of cocaine and other drugs into Manitoba for
big money, according to detectives who monitor and police the
activities of organized crime groups.

"In a lot of these groups there's a lot of co-operation and
inter-mingling," said Det. Ryan Howanyk of the Winnipeg police
organized crime unit, which investigates outlaw motorcycle gangs,
Asian organized crime, street gangs and independent drug cells.

"It's always gone on at a personal level. Now, it's done more
organization to organization," said Det. Nick Leone.

The biggest reason groups co-operate is the thing that drives them -- money.

Plus, conflict or violence in public is bad for business because it
brings unwanted heat from authorities, and seasoned gang members know
you can't make money when you're sitting in jail or beefing with
rivals, detectives said during a private seminar about gangs, drugs
and illegal firearms yesterday.

Some are associated or possibly aligning with larger organized crime
groups in B.C., where a bloody war is being waged in the Vancouver
area. That's another trend investigators have noticed -- the
increasing influence B.C. groups are having in Manitoba.

"They see there's a market here and just like any business they're
going to exploit that," Leone said.

Detectives discussed the dynamics of street gangs and organized crime
groups, among other topics during the six-hour session.

They also shared a new spin in the world of the Hells Angels'
Manitoba chapter, which is still open despite two large police stings
which put several members and associates behind bars.

Detectives said a new group called Redlined has moved in and is
associated with the Angels.

Police say they're doing their best to crack organized crime groups
but it's difficult because of the level of sophistication at which
they operate and the fact high-ranking members insulate themselves
with dozens of associates.