BIKER BATTLE BREWS

Local Hells Angels may be under orders from B.C. counterparts to steer
clear of conflicts with the upstart Bandidos, even as the gang moves in on
Angels territory throughout the region, says a national RCMP biker gang
expert. But the peace is doomed to fall apart, said Ottawa-based Staff Sgt.
Jean-Pierre Levesque.

"Right now, the B.C. Hells Angels are putting pressure on their Alberta
brothers to back off the Bandidos," he said. "They're very concerned about
their national image now, and the risk of heavy police attention. But I'd
be very surprised if things stay this quiet for much longer."

Recently, Vancouver media outlets reported that the Bandidos, deadly rivals
of the Angels and one of the most powerful gangs in the U.S., could be
opening a chapter in B.C.

RCMP said the Bandidos may be looking to carve off a slice of the West
Coast's multi-billion-dollar hydroponic marijuana industry. That would put
them in direct commercial conflict with the Angels.

Levesque said Angels nationwide are trying to avoid any public battles with
rivals.

"Everybody learned the lesson of Quebec," he said, referring to the street
wars between the Angels and the Rock Machine in the late 1990s that claimed
an estimated 170 lives.

The public outcry ended with the arrest of much of the Angels' leadership.

The Bandidos inherited what was left of the Rock Machine network after the
Quebec wars ended. Levesque said the Angels have been walking on eggshells
lately, trying to avoid any bloody conflict with the Bandidos that would
invite another cop crackdown.

"The Quebec wars got the police forces and Crown to work together against
the gangs," he said. "And now the Angels want to avoid the limelight."

One former Edmonton-based gang investigator, who asked not to be named,
said the Angels and the Bandidos may not be able to avoid stepping on each
other's toes.

"Biker gangs aren't like other crime organizations. There isn't some boss
at the top who tells everyone what to do," he said. "They'll send messages
to other gangs as an organization, but the individual members handle their
business on their own - whether that's selling dope or dealing out revenge.

"But if individual members take action against Bandidos and the Angels
hierarchy doesn't care for that, they're not above getting rid of their own
people."

Levesque said he doubts the Bandidos will make their next move into B.C.
"The next province we expect them to move on is Manitoba."