HELP US FIGHT ORGANIZED CRIME, POLICE SAY

Police in York Region are struggling to keep up with an ever-expanding wave
of organized crime, the police services board heard yesterday.

"You can only be so efficient. And we're bound by resources," Insp. Randy
Horne said.

"Our challenges are only going to get greater."

Insp. Horne, of the force's investigative services unit, outlined for board
members a web of crime that extends to all corners of the planet and is
increasingly infringing upon everyday life here.

He outlined how gangs with ties in Asia, Italy, Eastern Europe and North
America have established a foothold and staked their claim in York Region.

Those criminal enterprises are evident in rising incidents of marijuana
cultivation, prostitution, car theft and peripheral crimes -- including
murder -- in burgeoning York, Insp. Horne said.

And criminals will continue to thrive here as long as it pays, he said.

"Any organized crime is profit driven."

His report prompted board member Bob Callow to call for support for more
officers. The police budget sent to regional council earlier this month
seeks 110 new cops and proposes to increase spending by $26 million, to
$140 million.

Markham Mayor Don Cousens, chairperson of the region's finance committee,
has rejected the increase as too steep. The region has yet to make a final
decision on the police budget.

Mr. Callow said plans for stepped-up hiring are designed to address issues
such as increased activity by organized criminals.

"The reason we put this (hiring plan) forward is that we see these
challenges ahead," Mr. Callow said.

"It's disturbing to see the material growth of these (criminal)
organizations in our communities.

"Are we winning the war? Do we have enough resources to do that?"

Insp. Horne identified a number of groups responsible for the majority of
the region's organized crime activity. They include:

. Asian gangs, whose primary activities are marijuana grow operations and
body rub parlours that act as fronts for prostitution. They're also known
for loan sharking, counterfeiting and extortion.

Although grow operations are undertaken by many criminal organizations, the
market in York Region is dominated by the Asians, Insp. Horne said. Much of
that dope winds up in the U.S.

. Eastern European gangs, many of whom are young men with military
experience. They specialize in car theft, bank and credit card fraud and
identity theft, Insp. Horne said.

"What we're finding in York Region is this group (is) very organized, very
aggressive in the pursuit of money ... and not intimidated by law enforcement."

. Outlaw biker gangs, who deal in drugs, prostitutes, intimidation and
other illegal activities, often in cahoots with traditional mob figures.
Bikers such as the Hells Angels, which absorbed smaller Ontario gangs a few
years back, are fiercely protective of their turf and have been known to
engage in wars with rival gangs. The Angels have chapters in Keswick and
Woodbridge.

A rival gang, the Bandidos, made its presence known in Canada by banding
with Angels' archenemies the Rock Machine a few years back.

"We've got six of them (Bandidos) in York Region. It has the potential for
a problem," Insp. Horne said.

York Regional Police continue to work in conjunction with other police
forces and intelligence agencies to monitor organized crime and potential
terrorist activity, Insp. Horne said.