NEW WORRY: WHO WILL STEP INTO THE BIG BOYS' SHOES?

Cops Keep Eye On Street Gangs; Several Groups Could Take Over Drug Trade

With the Hells Angels off the street, police are worried Montreal's
increasingly powerful street gangs will start filling the void.

Surete du Quebec Chief Inspector Jocelyn Latulipe told reporters
yesterday that police are keeping a watch on other gangs that might
step forward to replace the Hells Angels.

"What I can say is that there are many types of criminal intelligence
from various police forces (that) attempt to keeps tabs on the
various territories. To say who would take over, we can't actually
target a group in particular.

"I can confirm there have been transitions made to attempt to
determine who will take over for the Hells or take control of drug
trafficking in Quebec."

He said police have good intelligence-gathering capabilities. "I
think we are able to make sure that we will not have to face to same
cancer as the Hells Angels again."

Police sources said their main concern are Montreal street gangs,
many of whom were created by the Hells Angels.

The Syndicate, for example, was formed in the 1990s by members of the
Rockers, a Hells Angels puppet club connected to the now-defunct
Nomads. Police took both clubs down in Operation Springtime 2001.

Two months ago, Montreal police arrested more than 50 street gang
members, some of whom were part of the Syndicate - including its
leader, Emmanuel Zephir, 36, of Terrebonne and his younger brother Jean-Ismael.

But the Syndicate still exists and its membership is a mixture of
Haitians and whites. The gang was started by Gregory Wooley, 37, a
Haitian from Montreal North now serving a 13-year sentence for
conspiracy to commit murder and other crimes.

He is due to be released from prison this year.

The Bo-Gars is another gang that has made inroads in Montreal and
Laval because of its connections with the Hells Angels and the Mafia.

The street gang originated in Montreal's north end and its members
have been involved in drug trafficking, kidnappings, extortion and gun battles.

One prominent member was deported to Haiti last year after he was
arrested in 2005 as a suspect in a series of kidnappings of teenage
gang members who robbed a Laval home of $2 million in cash.

Montreal police have continued to blanket the north end daily with
police officers who gather intelligence on the gangs.

Police say they have enough intelligence sources to keep close tabs
on the street gangs should any territorial battles flare up.

Meanwhile in Ottawa, Bloc Quebecois MP Real Menard yesterday filed a
motion before the Justice Committee asking that the government study
the possibility of outlawing the Hells Angels and "all other similar
organizations."

"The Hells Angels have established a reputation based on fear and
intimidation ... which serves very nicely their criminal activities," he said.