NEW RAIDS, ARRESTS IN HELLS CRACKDOWN

EIGHT men allegedly connected to the Hells Angels were arrested in the
past week following a series of raids in which police seized five
handguns and cocaine.

Sgt. Rob Harding said yesterday the arrests are only one part of an
ongoing police crackdown on organized crime in the city.

"It affects their ability to do business," he told reporters as police
put the illegal guns and other items on display.

The latest arrests follow several raids last month in which police
arrested five members of the Manitoba Hells Angels, including the
gang's president Ernie Dew, on drug and gangsterism charges.

Dew, along with Hells Angels Jeff Peck and Ian Grant, remains in
custody.

Harding said those arrests are not related to the ones in the past
week.

"However, the players are certainly associated," he
said.

Police said the gun and drug seizures were made after three men were
stopped March 8 by officers with the organized crime unit outside a
Leila Avenue apartment block.

The suspects were allegedly in possession of five loaded
semi-automatic handguns, all black Glock pistols bearing U.S. serial
numbers.

Police believe the guns were being moved from one spot to another for
safekeeping.

Police also said one of the men had 11 one-gram packages of cocaine in
his possession and another man had 30 rocks of crack cocaine along
with two ounces of cocaine.

After the gun and drug seizure, police obtained search warrants for
several locations in Winnipeg and seized more evidence of drug
trafficking, including an automotive hydraulic press allegedly used to
compress bricks of cocaine for resale.

Harding also said the arrests are significant because as police chip
away at the lower ranks of the Hells Angels network, those at the top
are less insulated and more pressured to get directly involved in
criminal activity, putting themselves at risk of arrest. It also makes
those at the top more suspicious of who they're dealing with.

"A great deal of trust is placed in these associates and that trust is
not developed overnight," Harding said. "When someone is arrested
they've got to wonder how it took place."

Harding added the arrests are part of an eight-month effort by police
on the Hells Angels in which more than two dozen people have been arrested.

Jason Lamy, 25, and Jay Mike, 21, are both charged with cocaine
possession and multiple gun offences.

Harding said Lamy is a Hells Angels associate and Mike is a Zig Zag
Crew associate. The Zig Zag Crew is the puppet club of the Manitoba
Hells Angels.

Christopher Dheilly, 21, is charged with multiple firearms offences.
Police said he is also a Zig Zag associate.

Harold Amos, 34, and Sean Demchuk, 22, are each charged with two
counts of cocaine trafficking and five counts of possession of a
prohibited restricted firearm.

Harding said Amos is a hang-around of the Hells Angels and Demchuk is
a member of the Zig Zag Crew.

Andrew O'Neill, 26, of Brandon, and Craig Mirus-Fredericks, 24, are
also charged with trafficking in cocaine. O'Neill is also a member of
the Zig Zag Crew. Mirus-Fredericks is an associate of the Zig Zag
Crew, police said.

Police also charged Jerry Crampton, 24, with weapons offences. He is
an associate of the Zig Zag Crew.

*SIDEBAR*

Life in the Hells

* The Manitoba Hells Angels began in July 2000

* It consists mostly of former Los Brovos gang members and one
Redliner gang member. That person has since been expelled from the
gang.

* The gang's clubhouse is at 2679 Scotia St. in north Winnipeg. It's
used for meetings and parties. Some members have lived there.

* It must be guarded at all times. The Hells Angels employ mostly Zig
Zag Crew members for this task. The Zig Zag Crew is the official
puppet club for the gang.

* There are 14 full members; there is a president, vice president,
secretary, treasurer, and sergeant-at-arms. Each member has one vote.

* There are two official hangarounds. They have to get 100 per cent
approval before getting this status. A hangaround is subservient to
full members.

* The Hells Angels have an elaborate process for recruitment. The
sergeant-at-arms does detailed background checks of prospective
members, including family, friends, school and prison.

* Only candidates skilled in criminal activity are
considered.

* Rules include: no use of heroin; no burns or dealings that reflect
poorly on the club, and no rapes.