Sunday, August 19, 2007
B.C. a hub for organized crime group activity says federal report
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ORGANIZED CRIME LOVES B.C.
Federal report says we are hub for drug production, distribution
Glenda Luymes,
The Province; CanWest News Service
Published: Sunday, August 19, 2007
B.C. holds a prominent place in the organized crime world, according to a recent report that says the number of gangs in Canada is on the rise.
The 2007 annual report by the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada indicates there are about 950 organized crime groups in the country, up from 800 in 2006.
"This is significant and it reinforces our commitment to work together to detect, reduce and prevent organized crime in Canada," newly-named RCMP commissioner William Elliott said at a Calgary news conference Friday. "The good news is that we're better at identifying these groups than ever before." {Snip} ...
The report identifies B.C. as a "hub" for organized crime grojavascript:void(0)up activity, such as drug production and distribution.
Many of Canada's large-scale marijuana grow-ops are located in B.C., Ontario and Quebec, where pot is sometimes exported to the U.S. in exchange for cocaine.
B.C. also produces much of the country's ecstasy, which is exported all over the world, and the province is also one of the top suppliers in Canada's domestic methamphetamine market.
The report quotes Vancouver's new police chief, who emphasizes the negative impacts of the drug trade.
"Extremely addictive, deadly drugs such as crystal meth, heroin and crack cocaine damage individuals, their families and society," said Chief Jim Chu.
The report blames organized crime for much of Canada's firearms-related violence, citing handguns as the illegal weapon of choice for B.C.'s gangsters, compared to Eastern Canada, where long guns are more prevalent. {Snip} ...
The RCMP oversees the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada, which is dedicated to tackling organized crime and comprises about 380 different law enforcement agencies.
gluymes@png.canwest.com
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=fab93e1c-a242-42dd-9bc0-b948d7137028&k=17338
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Q. Money-laundering must be a critical component of this criminal activity when the annual illicit trade -- in the Billions of $$s -- is conducted entirely in cash. Wouldn't somebody notice? - BC Mary.
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Oh yes! Somebody did notice!
RCMP FIND $500,000 CASH DURING CAR SEARCH
Police believe money belonged to crime group and are holding driver
Jason Hewlett,
CanWest News Service
Published: Wednesday, August 22, 2007
KAMLOOPS - The RCMP said Tuesday it found a duffle bag full of cash -- half a million dollars of it -- during a routine traffic stop near Clearwater.
Police believe the money belonged to an organized crime organization involved in drugs or weapons, said Insp. Randy Kolibaba, the RCMP officer in charge of regional traffic services.
Kolibaba said the effects of organized crime ultimately show up in communities like Kamloops and Kelowna in the form of property crime and prostitution.{Snip}
The money and drugs are transported by lower-tier members of criminal organizations called mules, he said. They drive from town to town selling drugs or collecting money made through the drug trade.
Kolibaba said this is likely what a 22-year-old man was doing when police arrested him near Clearwater on Monday. {Snip} ...
Kamloops RCMP Const. Dave Kelly said most mules carry smaller amounts, usually between $5,000 and $40,000. Several kilograms of drugs have also been seized.
But the major players usually escape capture. Kelly said it's the mule who typically does the time.
Kolibaba said a vehicle containing $700,000 was intercepted in March.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=4ffbf2bd-ebe5-4760-974a-99d4d46d71b2
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
But somebody has to notice how this amount of cash gets laundered. Right?
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
ORGANIZED CRIME LOVES B.C.
Federal report says we are hub for drug production, distribution
Glenda Luymes,
The Province; CanWest News Service
Published: Sunday, August 19, 2007
B.C. holds a prominent place in the organized crime world, according to a recent report that says the number of gangs in Canada is on the rise.
The 2007 annual report by the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada indicates there are about 950 organized crime groups in the country, up from 800 in 2006.
"This is significant and it reinforces our commitment to work together to detect, reduce and prevent organized crime in Canada," newly-named RCMP commissioner William Elliott said at a Calgary news conference Friday. "The good news is that we're better at identifying these groups than ever before." {Snip} ...
The report identifies B.C. as a "hub" for organized crime grojavascript:void(0)up activity, such as drug production and distribution.
Many of Canada's large-scale marijuana grow-ops are located in B.C., Ontario and Quebec, where pot is sometimes exported to the U.S. in exchange for cocaine.
B.C. also produces much of the country's ecstasy, which is exported all over the world, and the province is also one of the top suppliers in Canada's domestic methamphetamine market.
The report quotes Vancouver's new police chief, who emphasizes the negative impacts of the drug trade.
"Extremely addictive, deadly drugs such as crystal meth, heroin and crack cocaine damage individuals, their families and society," said Chief Jim Chu.
The report blames organized crime for much of Canada's firearms-related violence, citing handguns as the illegal weapon of choice for B.C.'s gangsters, compared to Eastern Canada, where long guns are more prevalent. {Snip} ...
The RCMP oversees the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada, which is dedicated to tackling organized crime and comprises about 380 different law enforcement agencies.
gluymes@png.canwest.com
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=fab93e1c-a242-42dd-9bc0-b948d7137028&k=17338
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Q. Money-laundering must be a critical component of this criminal activity when the annual illicit trade -- in the Billions of $$s -- is conducted entirely in cash. Wouldn't somebody notice? - BC Mary.
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Oh yes! Somebody did notice!
RCMP FIND $500,000 CASH DURING CAR SEARCH
Police believe money belonged to crime group and are holding driver
Jason Hewlett,
CanWest News Service
Published: Wednesday, August 22, 2007
KAMLOOPS - The RCMP said Tuesday it found a duffle bag full of cash -- half a million dollars of it -- during a routine traffic stop near Clearwater.
Police believe the money belonged to an organized crime organization involved in drugs or weapons, said Insp. Randy Kolibaba, the RCMP officer in charge of regional traffic services.
Kolibaba said the effects of organized crime ultimately show up in communities like Kamloops and Kelowna in the form of property crime and prostitution.{Snip}
The money and drugs are transported by lower-tier members of criminal organizations called mules, he said. They drive from town to town selling drugs or collecting money made through the drug trade.
Kolibaba said this is likely what a 22-year-old man was doing when police arrested him near Clearwater on Monday. {Snip} ...
Kamloops RCMP Const. Dave Kelly said most mules carry smaller amounts, usually between $5,000 and $40,000. Several kilograms of drugs have also been seized.
But the major players usually escape capture. Kelly said it's the mule who typically does the time.
Kolibaba said a vehicle containing $700,000 was intercepted in March.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=4ffbf2bd-ebe5-4760-974a-99d4d46d71b2
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
But somebody has to notice how this amount of cash gets laundered. Right?
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