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Gangs may now be co-operating, says expert
Doug Beazley, There's a new spirit of detente and partnership in Canadian organized crime, says a national gang expert. And while emerging business links between traditional foes like Mafia families and outlaw biker groups may be preventing bloodshed on the streets of cities like "Criminal partnerships are being established. English is the new common language of organized crime," said Nicaso, a Toronto-based journalist who's written several books about Canadian Mafia organizations. "The immediate result is less bloodshed. But the situation is still very volatile, and these partnerships ultimately mean you have more narcotics on the street." The annual report of the Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta, released last week, said criminal organizations which used to be considered deadly enemies are starting to go into business together. "The Hells Angels do not control the drug trade in "This has not, as yet, sparked any overt inter-gang conflicts between the Hells Angels and other criminal organizations, such as Asian groups. "On the contrary, intelligence indicates there may be some level of co-operation, or at least 'business' arrangements, between the Hells Angels and other groups." In Edmonton and elsewhere, said Nicaso, those arrangements are allowing biker gangs to expand beyond their old role at the bottom of the drug trade - traffickers - into buying shares in major narcotic shipments with other gangster partners. As a result, he said, Canadian organized crime is increasing its buying power on the international narcotics markets. |