Pubdate: Sun, 10 Mar 2013 Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB) Copyright: 2013 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.winnipegsun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503 Author: James Turner RISE OF THE MANITOBA WARRIORS The Manitoba Warriors formed two decades ago from a group of drug-slingers who rapidly grew the gang into an organized and feared criminal group, one which today casts its shadow across several provinces despite several major crackdown efforts by police. And with Winnipeg police currently having more than 300 Manitoba Warriors (MW) members and associates in their records, there's fear the gang's growth will continue, leaving it "one of the dominant organized street gangs" which battles for control of the lucrative drug trade in Winnipeg's North End and inner-city areas and in remote communities. A concise history of the Warriors - as seen through the eyes of police - is contained in a recently-tendered court report obtained by the Winnipeg Sun. The eight-page report traces the gang's growth and habits and outlines why police believe it's a dangerous public safety threat. In 1993, the MW formed and soon drew attention from cops, who noted how structured the gang was. Police say they initially modelled themselves after the now-defunct Los Brovos outlaw motorcycle group, creating senior roles such as president and a sergeant-at-arms and held weekly "church" meetings. Anyone 18 or older wanting to be in the gang served a probationary period as a "striker" before an internal vote was held to determine full membership. The fortunes of the MW appeared to diminish in 1998 following the arrest of 35 members in a massive drug-related sting dubbed Operation Northern Snow. A new maximum-security courthouse was built at great expense by the province to facilitate a much-ballyhooed and expensive "mega-trial," but the facility went largely unused after most of those arrested took plea deals. The gang was declared by the courts to be a criminal organization. Police say the MW adapted after Northern Snow and formed three distinct cells of varying degrees of sophistication: Ruthless Warriors, Central Warriors, and Notorious Krew. The goal of this strategy, police say, was survival should one of the cells fall to police interdiction. "Drug trafficking was still the primary activity of the Manitoba Warriors during this period through 'dial-a-dope operations' and 'crack houses,' the report says. "The Manitoba Warriors were strongly involved in prostitution during this period." Recruitment efforts continued, with the MW exploiting family connections with members of less powerful street gangs. Around 2006-07, a "Junior Warriors" gang was created in hopes of attracting and enlisting future members for the more senior group, police said. Throughout the years a violent rivalry with the Indian Posse street gang has continued. "The rivalry ... has resulted in several homicides and unreported assaults," the report stated. Police say by 2009 the three-cell strategy was junked as other street gangs gained power. Defined leadership titles were also eschewed and a new "council" of five ranking members was created to make and pass down orders to other members and associates. Also in this period, a short-lived affiliation with the Most Organized Brothers gang fell apart due to an unspecified "blow out" - one which continues to cause bad blood between the two factions to today. Migration away from the MW has also taken place with some members moving to the Hells Angels, the Zig Zag Crew, Redlined and the Rock Machine motorcycle gangs in recent years, the report said. Also concerning is how MW members have shown an ability to infiltrate justice-related agencies, police say. In 2008, an extensive police probe into the workings of the federally-funded Paa Pii Wak halfway house showed MW members managed to infiltrate the organization. "Manitoba Warrior members and associates were obtaining a government wage and were utilizing their positions to facilitate other Manitoba Warrior members/associates, and up-and-coming gang members in obtaining bail, and probation, with lighter, or less supervised conditions," the report states. Charges were laid and Paa Pii Wak's funding was pulled. [sidebar] MANITOBA WARRIORS: A TIMELINE OF MAJOR EVENTS 1993 - Warriors form in Winnipeg and take on on an outlaw biker gang-like internal power structure. Nov. 4, 1998 - "Takedown" day in Operation Northern Snow, which saw 35 MW members and associates arrested, mainly on drug-charges. The government moves to try the accused together to test out new federal anti-gang legislation and a new, $3.6 million maximum-security courthouse. May-July 2000 - A so-called "mega-trial" effectively collapses after many accused take plea deals and a judge rules to sever off some of the accused to make the case more manageable. The gang restructures into three sub-sets in the years to come. 2006-07 - The "Junior Warriors" is created to help identify and recruit young men into the senior gang after they turn 18. 2007 - The gang redevelops its three-piece vest patch. Police say it's to make the gang "more adaptable" to expansion outside Manitoba. 2008 - The MW strike up a relationship with the younger Most Organized Brothers gang, one that wasn't to last as MOB members "lost interest" in trying to prove themselves to the more senior gang. A "blow out" caused a rift which exists to this day. 2009 - Three separate MW factions are dissolved and the gang resumes being a "sole entity." 2009 - Police conclude their investigation into the Paa Pii Wak halfway house, netting charges against several MW members. Summer 2011 - Police note several MW members "transition" to the Rock Machine biker gang. The summer was noted for a violent "biker war" between the Hells Angels, Rock Machine and associated "puppet" clubs. - - Sources: Winnipeg police opinion report, news archives - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom