Pubdate: Tue, 09 May 2006
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Kathleen Harris, Ottawa Bureau			

UNHOLY ALLIANCE: RCMP

Terrorists In Need Of Cash Turn To Mobsters' Traditional Crimes

OTTAWA -- Canada's top cop says stretched police forces can tackle 
only a fraction of organized crime as a new problem arises with 
terrorist groups working alongside street gangs to raise cash.

RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli told the Senate defence 
committee yesterday that some terrorist cells are financing their 
illicit activities with the aid of organized crime.

"There seems to be an emerging trend or indication that some 
terrorist groups are clearly using certain organized crime groups to 
funnel or to fund some of their activities," he said.

Zaccardelli said there are growing signs that terrorist groups are 
raising cash through criminal activity or being fed resources that 
are the product of illegal activity -- a trend the RCMP is monitoring 
closely because it has the potential to "cause us some serious problems."

RCMP Sgt. Paul Marsh later clarified the commissioner's comments, 
stating he was referring to a growing trend of terrorists turning to 
the traditional tactics of organized crime, such as drugs and property crime.

Zaccardelli said while Canada faces a growing problem with biker, 
Asian and traditional gangs, limited police resources mean the 
Mounties are only able to take down some.

Senator Colin Kenny called the trend of terrorists and gangs jointly 
raising cash a "huge" concern. Calling it "narco-terrorism," he said 
the bad guys are in cahoots, mostly in the drug trade.

'Not Too Picky'

"Where you have organized criminals with the capacity to move 
anything through a port, that same method can be used by terrorists 
to move things in. Smugglers simply are not too picky about what they 
move," Kenny said.

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said organized crime activities 
financing terrorist groups is a growing concern for intelligence 
services in Canada and around the world.

"It gives one more very strong reason why we want to deal with 
organized crime and also counter terrorism," Day said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman