BIKERS LINKED TO RAID

Local News - Timmins police are remaining quiet about organized crime
activity in the city, even as investigators outside the area acknowledge
those arrested in a giant raid this week are known to outlaw motorcycle
gang investigations.

OPP Detective Staff Sergeant Scott Mills, supervisor for the Northeastern
Ontario biker division, said the names of those facing charges after
Wednesday's raids turned up drugs, weapons, armour, explosive devices and
cash, are well known to his division.

While he said he didn't know if any were members of any particular gang, he
said outlaw biker gangs such as the Hells Angels frequently have a role in
narcotic dealings.

"Hells Angels are involved in drug trafficking, and they do influence
Timmins drug culture," Mills said, but would not comment on the extent of
their influence.

Mills said outlaw bikers are attempting to make themselves less visible.

"They're cutting their hair, they're not wearing their colours anymore.
They're trying to blend in with society a bit more."

There's a lot of money to be made in the drug trade, Mills said, which is a
big draw for organized crime, and many don't want to hurt their lucrative
business by drawing attention to their affiliations.

"Where there's that kind of money, you're going to find gang activity," he
said.

"Whenever you have drugs, money and violence you're going to have outlaw
biker gangs.

"These things go hand in hand."

Inspector Mike McGinn with the Timmins Police Service said he couldn't say
if the rifles seized during the massive sweep in Timmins and Quebec were
used in any kind of criminal activity or if violence among gang members was
escalating. McGinn would also not comment on the prevalence of gangs in
Timmins.

"In order to distribute such a large quantify of drugs, you have to have
connections, be it biker gangs, mafia, whatever it may be," McGinn said.

Of the six suspects arrested, five were sent to Montreal to face several
drug, weapon and fraud charges.

One suspect, 23-year-old Jesse Jacques, remained in Timmins and plead
guilty at his Friday afternoon bail hearing to two counts of possessing
narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and one count of possessing an
illegal explosive.

He received a conditional sentence of six months house arrest, a $200 fine
for the explosive and a year on probation.

The Crown said Jacques' plea will have no effect on the cases against the
five others arrested in Timmins.

Police also continue to probe the "relationship to drug distribution and an
ongoing murder investigation," McGinn said.

Maurice Servant Jr., 35, arrested Wednesday morning, was the older brother
of the late Randall Servant, 31, whose body was found on Vipond road
earlier this year. Servant was shot to death.

Ronald Godin's body was found in April after his disappearance in January.