ORGANIZED GANGS KEEPING HALTON POLICE BUSY

Halton Regional Police Chief Ean Algar used the example of increased gang
activity in the region to justify asking the Police Services Board for more
money.

While the gangs may not be headquartered in Halton, that doesn't stop them
from doing business here, the chief told the board.

"They don't just hit the border and say it's Halton. They come
here...they're all here," said Algar. But the chief noted that policing
gang activity is just one of a myriad of pressures facing Halton police.

Deputy Chief Gary Crowell echoed Algar's sentiments and said there are at
least two Hell's Angels members in our area and Georgetown is home to one
motorcycle club.

Although no clubhouses have yet to spring up in the region, Algar said a
gang called the Crypts and another one called Oriental Blood Brothers
(OBB), has members who frequent Halton nightclubs.

Several members of the OBB gang were charged earlier this year in
connection with the murder of a Burlington teenager.

But it's not just biker gangs that are active here, according to police.

Aside from "traditional" organized crime groups and gangs, there are also
outlaw motorcycle gangs eastern Europe and Asian groups.

A Russian gang, for example, has been involved in telemarketing schemes
conducted in the region, said the chief.

Algar said the policing of organized crime is time intensive and complex
for police. It takes a lot of human resources and is often international in
scope -- and it's costly.

This past year, Halton had 14 specially trained investigators working on
organized crime.

"These people are not rookies," said Algar.

Meanwhile, the chief said their "opponents" are well-organized, have vast
resources, follow no rules and often co-operate with each other.

"The days of a few people riding around on bikes or selling drugs are
gone," said the chief.

And while the chief didn't necessarily link gangs or organized crime
activity to a growing drug trade, he said a "proliferation" of drug
cultivation operations is also putting pressure on local police.

And police don't know who's behind it.

So far in 2001, 16 such operations have been raided in Halton -- three were
raided in Glen Abbey just last week.

In total, well over 4,000 marijuana plants with a street value of $4
million were seized. The Glen Abbey seizures bumped that figure to $5.5
million.

"We're not getting up the ladder. I don't know where that money is going,
but it's not going to charity," said Algar.

This type of operation is something police didn't expect, said the chief.

The deputy-chief said those behind the operations are getting more
sophisticated every day.

Police used to make such raids dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, he said. Now
they wear special suits and air filters to protect against chemicals used
in the process.

"The THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content is incredible," said Crowell.

Police said one of the trio of operations raided last week in Oakville
would have given the impression that a family lived in the home. A bicycle
was often placed by the front door and toys were frequently scattered about.