GANGS TEAMING UP IN DRUG TRADE

Organized crime investigators across Alberta are noticing criminal gangs are
becoming more co-operative in the illegal drug trade rather than bitter
rivals. "Intelligence indicates there may be some level of co-operation, or
at least 'business' arrangements between the Hells Angels and other criminal
groups," Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta says in its 2003-04 annual
report.

CISA operations co-ordinator Gary Buss said the new co-operation between
organized crime groups seems to be taking the form of more competition at
the narcotics supply level.

"For example, two or three years ago a street-level gang would have been
expected to buy all of its supply from a single (outlaw motorcycle gang),"
Buss said yesterday. "If it didn't, it would face retaliation.

"Now they seem to have a choice of suppliers, and they can get the best
price without being punished. If one group has an excess of cocaine, for
example, it can market the excess to other gangs. It's almost an open
market."

Buss said the recent faceoff between the Hells Angels and their eastern
rivals, the Bandidos, could be an example of the new spirit of detente.

Joey Morin, a Bandidos member setting up a chapter in Edmonton, was gunned
down along with another gang associate outside a city strip club in January.

Although the murder and Morin's burial in Bandidos' gang colours amounted to
the Bandidos planting their flag in Edmonton, initial predictions of a local
war between the two biker gangs turned out to be premature.

"Nothing's happened yet. And frankly, every police service in the province
is holding its breath," said Buss.

"It might be an example of criminal groups co-operating more. It could be
that the gangs are finally realizing that gunfire attracts police attention,
which is bad for business."

CISA notes in its report that the potential emergence of another viable
outlaw motorcycle club like the Bandidos in Alberta "could lead to greater
conflict with the Hells Angels."

The Hells Angels have three chapters in the province and a presence in Fort
McMurray, Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge.