GANGS MAY NOW BE CO-OPERATING, SAYS EXPERT

There's a new spirit of detente and partnership in Canadian organized
crime says a national gang expert. And while emerging business links
between traditional foes like Mafia families and outlaw biker groups
may be preventing bloodshed on the streets of cities like Edmonton,
said Antonio Nicaso, the trend will be bad news in the long run.

"Criminal partnerships are being established. English is the new
common language of organized crime," said Nicaso, a Toronto-based
journalist who's written several books about Canadian Mafia
organizations.

"The immediate result is less bloodshed. But the situation is still
very volatile, and these partnerships ultimately mean you have more
narcotics on the street."

The annual report of the Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta,
released last week, said criminal organizations which used to be
considered deadly enemies are starting to go into business together.

"The Hells Angels do not control the drug trade in Alberta, but
compete with other organized crime groups for the same markets with
the same commodities," said the report.

"This has not, as yet, sparked any overt inter-gang conflicts between
the Hells Angels and other criminal organizations, such as Asian groups.

"On the contrary, intelligence indicates there may be some level of
co-operation, or at least 'business' arrangements, between the Hells
Angels and other groups."

In Edmonton and elsewhere, said Nicaso, those arrangements are
allowing biker gangs to expand beyond their old role at the bottom of
the drug trade - traffickers - into buying shares in major narcotic
shipments with other gangster partners.

As a result, he said, Canadian organized crime is increasing its
buying power on the international narcotics markets.