UNHOLY ALLIANCE: RCMP

Terrorists In Need Of Cash Turn To Mobsters' Traditional Crimes

OTTAWA -- Canada's top cop says stretched police forces can tackle
only a fraction of organized crime as a new problem arises with
terrorist groups working alongside street gangs to raise cash.

RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli told the Senate defence
committee yesterday that some terrorist cells are financing their
illicit activities with the aid of organized crime.

"There seems to be an emerging trend or indication that some
terrorist groups are clearly using certain organized crime groups to
funnel or to fund some of their activities," he said.

Zaccardelli said there are growing signs that terrorist groups are
raising cash through criminal activity or being fed resources that
are the product of illegal activity -- a trend the RCMP is monitoring
closely because it has the potential to "cause us some serious problems."

RCMP Sgt. Paul Marsh later clarified the commissioner's comments,
stating he was referring to a growing trend of terrorists turning to
the traditional tactics of organized crime, such as drugs and property crime.

Zaccardelli said while Canada faces a growing problem with biker,
Asian and traditional gangs, limited police resources mean the
Mounties are only able to take down some.

Senator Colin Kenny called the trend of terrorists and gangs jointly
raising cash a "huge" concern. Calling it "narco-terrorism," he said
the bad guys are in cahoots, mostly in the drug trade.

'Not Too Picky'

"Where you have organized criminals with the capacity to move
anything through a port, that same method can be used by terrorists
to move things in. Smugglers simply are not too picky about what they
move," Kenny said.

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said organized crime activities
financing terrorist groups is a growing concern for intelligence
services in Canada and around the world.

"It gives one more very strong reason why we want to deal with
organized crime and also counter terrorism," Day said.