ORGANIZED CRIME 'ALIVE AND WELL IN KELOWNA'

Organized criminals see the Central Okanagan as prime ground for
making money, and police are struggling to keep up with them, says
B.C.'s top cop in the battle.

Marianne Ryan told a Kelowna Chamber of Commerce audience that local
RCMP are focused on eight full-patch members of the Hells Angels as
well as Independent Soldiers in Kelowna. But the rural nature of the
surrounding area makes it hard for police to focus on gang members who
set up grow-ops and in remote locations.

"With Kelowna being surrounded by rural properties and properties
difficult to access, that's a challenge for us," said Ryan,
superintendent of a combined unit that comprises 160 officers and
staff in B.C.

"There's certainly no shortage of work for us, and it's a target-rich
environment . . . (Organized crime) is alive and well in Kelowna."

The number of crime groups in B.C. has surged in the last five years,
from 54 in 2003 to 129 last year. They're setting up shop in the
Okanagan because it's a nice place to live, members can enjoy the
amenities and there's a lot of money to be made, Ryan said.

Crime groups have proliferated the province because of its ports and
shipping networks, she added.

B.C. is Canada's primary source for marijuana, which is smuggled to
the U.S., and methamphetamines, which are destined for Australia, New
Zealand and Japan, she said. One kilogram of meth costs $30,000 in
Vancouver, but fetches up to $160,000 in Australia.

Pot exports are now worth more than $6 billion a year in B.C. - four
per cent of the province's gross domestic product. The weed is usually
smuggled south and cocaine comes north, Ryan said.

B.C. is also a major entry point for cocaine smuggled into
Canada.

"It used to be rare to see a seizure of 100 kilograms of cocaine at
the border. Now it's routine," Ryan said. "Without a doubt, organized
crime is connected to drug trafficking."

The criminals are arming themselves like never before for protection
against competitors ripping them off. They import American weapons
like automatic handguns - some with silencers - and firearms they can
hide in their belt buckle.

Many wear bulletproof vests, even in court. In the Lower Mainland,
they drive armoured vehicles. And they're getting younger. While Hells
Angels age, members of independent gangs are typically in their early
20s, Ryan said. Their inexperience handling guns make innocent people
more vulnerable.

The various groups are co-operating more than they used to. The Angels
and Independent Soldiers are collaborating in Kelowna because there's
enough profit for everyone, police say. Elsewhere, independent groups
are each responsible for growing pot, processing it, distributing it
and laundering the money, she said.

The local RCMP has dedicated an officer to work full-time on organized
crime in the Central Okanagan.