Pubdate: Sun, 18 Feb 2001 Source: North Shore News (CN BC) Copyright: 2001 North Shore News Contact: 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V7M 2H4 Website: http://www.nsnews.com/ Author: Leo Knight ANGELS SPREAD THEIR WINGS A year or so ago, I was in Montreal doing some research into an organized crime story for another publication. In the course of speaking with some police officers tasked with investigating the ramifications of the war between the Hells Angels and the Rock Machine, I was told the Angels had become so powerful that they dealt manno a manno with the long-established Italian Mafia families. It couldn't be, could it? Had the Angels become that powerful or had the "men of respect" become so much less a factor? The concept of the beer-bellied bullies being invited to the linguini-laden tables of the pinky rings toppled my gyros. But, in fact, such is now the case. In Vancouver, for example, the six chapters of the Hells Angels have become the richest in the world of outlaw motorcycle gangs. They no longer send representatives to the so-called West Coast Officers Association meetings. They don't have to. They run things. But in looking at the structure of the East End, Vancouver, and Nomad chapters, we see they are inextricably tied to the local representatives of the Eastern Italian families. But it is the consolidation of their power and the striking of new alliances, which make the bikers even more dangerous. In the six years of the war for control of the drug trade in Quebec, 160 people have lost their lives including an 11-year-old boy. A further 173 people have been wounded in the shootings, bombings and beatings. Now it seems the Hells Angels are at least as powerful as the Italian Mafia, if not more so. In a Toronto Sun story last weekend, a police officer from their organized crime unit was quoted on the subject. "In the past," he said, holding his hands in front of him, "the Italians were up here, and the bikers there. "The tables have turned in the last 10 years, either the Angels are above or even," he said, realigning his hands. "The other groups are secret. The H.A.s? What are they fearing? They hide in plain sight." The Angels get their money and power from controlling the grow ops currently numbering in the thousands across the Lower Mainland. And no, they won't go away if we decriminalize or legalize marijuana despite what is being argued by many. Oh no, the Angels manufacture and distribute methamphetamine. They run vast cocaine networks. They control strippers, prostitutes, Internet porn and gambling. They engage in extortion, stock market rip-offs, counterfeiting satellite smart cards and a host of other things. In short, anything they can make money at that their organizational structure and intimidation tactics enhance. And now they have become more powerful than the "mob." - --- MAP posted-by: Kirk Bauer