Mafia begins unity drive

Canadian leaders face common threat from Hells Angels

Adrian Humphreys / National Post

Powerful Mafia leaders from across Canada held an unprecedented meeting last month to discuss concerns they could lose ground to aggressively expanding motorcycle gangs, sources say.

The meeting, held at the end of January in north Toronto, was an apparent attempt to forge an alliance among quarrelling Mafia clans from Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and possibly New York state. The aim is to present a united front to two internationally linked motorcycle gangs in Canada, according to underworld and police sources.

"The Hells Angels are now in Ontario forming a unity with the Hells Angels in Montreal. Is that a threat to them? I'd say so," said a Toronto police officer who investigates organized crime.

"It seems it's time for the Italians to put their differences aside and if they perceive the bikers as a threat, then they have incentive," he said of the Mafia clans.

Many Ontario motorcycle gangs recently unified under the Hells Angels banner, while their rivals, the Rock Machine, joined the Texas-based Bandidos. The two gangs are more powerful and prominent than ever, and Mafia leaders eye them with suspicion.

Police believe the Toronto meeting was chaired by Vito Rizzuto, the reputed Mafia chief from Montreal whom law enforcement officials said has recently grown in influence to become the most powerful boss in Canada.

Police said Mr. Rizzuto, 55, has been visiting Toronto regularly.

"He comes here at a minimum every two weeks," a Toronto police officer said.

"He has been trying to get the families together from around the Golden Horseshoe [in southern Ontario], on both sides of the border," the officer said.

Officers requested their names not be published for fear of jeopardizing investigations.

The underworld has been buzzing about the meeting for weeks, said a man who has worked extensively with the Mafia in Toronto and requested anonymity.

An RCMP officer based in Quebec said officers were hoping to secretly watch the meeting to see who was friendly to whom -- but the leaders appear to have dodged the surveillance efforts.

Large underworld encounters are rare, usually reserved for weddings and funerals of other mafiosi. They can offer clues to the current hierarchy and alliances of the Mafia.

It is rare for so many Mafia leaders, some of whom do not get along, to meet.

Antonio Nicaso, a prominent organized-crime specialist and author, said the Mafia are carefully watching the rapidly expanding biker gangs.

"The Mafia have considerable concern about this new presence in Ontario with the Hells Angels, especially because the motorcycle gang is starting to muscle in on their territory," said Mr. Nicaso.

"The old guard wanted to send a message that they are in charge and that the motorcycle gangs have to acknowledge their leadership and presence; others said they should not be tough on them, that they should work with them.

"In the end, I think, they decided just to wait, to monitor them and see if they continue to become a menace, a threat to them," Mr. Nicaso said.

Motorcycle gangs and the Mafia have peacefully coexisted for decades in Canada, but traditionally the bikers have been respectful of the mobsters' seniority in the underworld.

Often the Mafia was responsible for importing large quantities of drugs and the bikers would distribute and sell the drugs on the streets.

There is also evidence that mobsters, bikers and leaders of another major gang in Montreal regularly meet to iron out differences and agree on drug prices.

Since the Hells Angels have moved into Ontario, "They appear to take advantage of the less visibility of traditional organized crime," said Mr. Nicaso, referring to the Mafia.

A Toronto police officer said the mafiosi attitudes toward bikers split along generational lines.

"The older guys have never liked bikers. They are too unreliable, too violent, too hot-headed. Why hang around with a bunch of guys who wear a patch on their back telling everyone they're bad guys?" the officer said.

"For the younger generation, it is a different story."

February 26, 2001