Pubdate: Sat, 14 May 2005
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 The Vancouver Sun
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Jonathan Fowlie

SMUGGLING OPPORTUNITIES 'LIMITLESS'

Criminals Are Well Entrenched In Canada's Harbours, RCMP Report Says

Organized crime groups and other criminals are "well entrenched" in 
Canada's three largest marine ports, and have "limitless" ways to smuggle 
goods into the country, says a recent report by the RCMP.

"What is undeniable is that criminals are well entrenched in the port 
environment," says the May 2004 report, which looks at the involvement of 
criminal organizations, and the possible involvement of terrorist groups, 
in the ports of Vancouver, Montreal and Halifax.

"Some groups have rooted themselves firmly on the docks over decades," it adds.

The report, which was obtained by The Vancouver Sun under the Access to 
Information Act, says the large vessels that bring goods into the ports 
present "vast smuggling opportunities" and that criminals can quickly 
change their approach if one method of smuggling is foiled by authorities.

"Whenever a clear trend is detected by police and customs officials and 
repeated seizures are made, the smugglers will usually switch to another 
method," it says, describing various methods available to criminals to be 
"basically limitless."

In response to the report, RCMP Insp. Doug Kiloh, who is in charge of 
security for the port in Vancouver, acknowledged that organized crime is 
present at the port, but said those groups do not exert any control of the 
port through its management or that of the union.

Kiloh also said the presence of organized crime at the port does not mean 
the port is any worse off than other organizations in the country.

"Organized crime has its tentacles all throughout Canadian society, and the 
ports are no different," Kiloh said, reiterating the public stance he has 
taken in the past.

Details of how criminal groups operate at the port are mostly blanked out 
in the copy of the report released to The Sun, as is much of the 
information dealing with potential involvement of terrorist organizations.

The 24-page document does state, however, that the presence of criminals at 
the ports creates a difficult environment for those workers who want to 
follow the rules.

"With these [criminal] elements exerting general control over their work 
area, law-abiding co-workers often find themselves coerced into cooperating 
in illegal acts or turning a blind eye," it says.

"The intimidation tactics can also target customs and police officers," it 
adds, "but instances are fairly uncommon."

Kiloh did not want to address specific security concerns, but did say that 
authorities policing the ports face a difficult task.

"There are quite a variety of challenges to us -- the human factor, the 
ability to screen and check product, the size and volume," Kiloh said, 
pointing out that any added security can slow the flow of legitimate goods 
into the country.

"We can't stop that commerce because it feeds everything else," he said.

Despite the security challenges, Kiloh said the situation has been 
improving over the past five years at the port of Vancouver, and that it 
has the potential to improve even further in years to come.

"I know the next two years, with some of the proposals that are [being 
considered by the federal government], we are going to make potentially 
huge strides," he said, adding he is not currently able to discuss the details.

He did say, however, he is hopeful the potential collapse of the federal 
minority government will not derail the plans for future progress.

"B.C. is going to be the gatekeepers to the country's economy for a 
decade," he said. "It scares me if we don't protect it."
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman