Pubdate: Wed, 04 Oct 2006
Source: Hamilton Spectator (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006 The Hamilton Spectator
Contact:  http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/181
Author: Wade Hemsworth

THE CHANGING FACE OF CRIME IN CANADA

The Crimes They Are A-Changing.

Organized crime in Canada has changed considerably over the last 
several years, and a more traditional criminal who has been, let's 
say, "away" for some time is likely to find that the old workplace 
has changed considerably.

Here's a look at some of the ways that organized crime in Canada has 
changed, based on recent annual reports of the Criminal Intelligence 
Service of Canada, which collects information about organized crime 
from 380 law enforcement agencies across the country.

Competition: This year, the CISC identified 800 organized crime 
groups across the country. As the cultural portrait of Canada has 
changed, so too have its crime groups, and now criminals from more 
communities than ever are fighting for a piece of the pie, with the 
newest players being Eastern European crime groups, which are 
concentrated in Ontario, loosely organized, opportunistic and 
specialize in drugs and fraud.

The most sophisticated crime groups in Canada continue to be Asian 
and Italian groups and some Hells Angels chapters. Their operations 
tend to be larger, more complex and more resistant to disruption by police.

At least one expert believes Johnny Papalia's 1997 murder helped open 
the door for the establishment of the first Hells Angels chapters in 
Ontario three years later. The gang now has more than 200 members and 
16 chapters in Ontario, including a new chapter in Hamilton this 
year. Hamilton's Walter Stadnik, now serving time in a Quebec prison, 
is a senior member of the gang.

But the organization suffered a body blow last week after police 
forces across Ontario swooped down and arrested 28 Angels and 
associates. One was arrested in Hamilton, though the city chapter was 
not affected.

Italian-based crime groups continue to be centred mainly in Montreal, 
Toronto, Hamilton, Windsor and Niagara. In 2004, the last time it 
specifically addressed Italian-based crime, the CISC described 
Ontario-based traditional organized crime groups as "very 
sophisticated and capable of a wide range of criminal activities, 
including drug trafficking, illegal gambling, money laundering and 
large-scale fraud."

Asian organized crime is most active in British Columbia's lower 
mainland, Calgary, Edmonton and in the Toronto area. Police have 
linked Asian crime groups to payment card fraud, illegal gambling, 
loan sharking, prostitution, human smuggling and drugs.

Street gangs, involving primarily young men under 30, are violent, 
visible, and especially dangerous to the public. But police find them 
less criminally sophisticated than outlaw motorcycle gangs and 
ethnic-based crime groups. There are now an estimated 300 street 
gangs in Canada, with 11,000 members. Their scope, generally 
speaking, is local, and they tend to lack the resources and 
connections of more established groups, concentrating primarily on 
drugs, theft and the sex trade. Gun violence is prevalent among 
street gangs, as demonstrated by several recent incidents on the 
streets of Hamilton.

The gangs are taking an increasingly prominent place in this city. 
Hamilton police swept up 10 members in a series of raids late in 
September. But investigators concede that doesn't make much of a 
dent. They estimate there are at least 300 gangsters in the city.

The guns-and-gangs squad was recently increased to deal with the threat.

But it's not just large-scale organized crime. There's plenty of 
other action going on across the city.

Gunfire erupted twice on James Street North last month, with two men 
badly wounded in one attack. Further east, there have been a series 
of shootings, one of which killed a man outside an Ottawa Street 
North bar a year ago.

Globalization: More than ever, a bust in one part of the world 
creates opportunities and challenges elsewhere.

"Criminal markets are dynamic and evolve over time as they react to 
market forces, such as supply and demand," the CISC says. "The number 
of organized crime groups, their changing inter-relationships, and 
specific market dynamics contribute to the complexity of the Canadian 
criminal marketplace."

Drugs: Demand is as insatiable as ever, though the drugs in demand 
have changed a little. Ecstasy, crack cocaine and methamphetamine 
appeal to "niche" markets, while marijuana and cocaine continue to 
dominate the market. An estimated 80 per cent of all organized crime 
groups are involved in the import, production, distribution or sale 
of illegal drugs.

Technology: Organized criminals are keeping up to date and even ahead 
of technological developments, exploiting opportunities for identity 
theft and credit-card fraud, and intercepting electronic 
communications from computers and personal digital assistants.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine