MOUNTIES WARN OF ORGANIZED CRIME'S INFLUENCE

Mounties are gearing up for an influx of organized crime into the local
drug scene, Const. Dean Maxwell says.

"We feel it's only a matter of time before we get an inundation of crystal
methamphetamine and when it happens, there will be chaos because of the
destructive nature of the drug," Maxwell said.

Maxwell said the public will probably not notice an increase in violent
crime as a direct result of the influx, but theft, prostitution and other
problems will probably increase sharply, but the general public will still
find the Valley a safe place to live.

"Right now, they are coming in and setting up loan sharking operations, and
they have been known to use and take over prostitution rings and ... form
"partnerships" with local drug dealers so they can take over their
operations," said Maxwell.

Maxwell did not identify organizations which appear to be moving into the
Valley, but said police believe they are affiliated with "outlaw"
motorcycle gangs.

"The Valley has had a more subtle organized crime presence, but in the
future you could be seeing bikers wearing patches ... things like that,"
Maxwell said. Maxwell said mounties are working on a long-term strategy to
deal with the expected increase in crime, and will likely ask local
governments for more money to add more police to the detachment.

"If we can prevent them from getting a foothold in the community, we may
have a better chance of eliminating or reducing their influence . this has
to be more than just an RCMP program; it has to be a community program,"
Maxwell said, urging the public to be watchful for signs of drug production
and other crime in local neighborhoods.

Solicitor General Rich Coleman recently announced formation of a province
wide integrated police unit aimed at organized crime.

The streamlined unit will enable police in communities across the province
to coordinate investigation and law enforcement.

"Criminals don't respect municipal borders and this move will help to
eliminate overlap and duplication among law enforcement agencies, said
Beverley Busson, RCMP deputy commissioner for the Pacific Region.

The new unit will be based on the B.C. government Organized Crime Agency,
formed in 1999, and will be transferred to the RCMP on April 1, 2004, the
attorney general's office said.

Coleman said the new, integrated unit will be able to access more federal
money under the federal-provincial RCMP contract which requires the federal
government to pay 30 percent of policing costs.