HELLS ANGELS TARGETED

A special task force announced by the province last week has been
investigating the dark underbelly of organized crime for more than a
year in Nanaimo and elsewhere.

A search and seizure at the Nanaimo Hells Angels clubhouse was part of
the province-wide search for organized crime, said Marianne Ryan,
chief officer of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit.

The 95-member provincial squad was set up to expose, investigate and
disrupt organized crime in B.C.

Hells Angels members maintain their club is simply a fraternity of
motorcycle enthusiasts, with a few bad apples giving the bunch a bad
name.

Police believe the club represents a highly organized web connected to
drug trafficking, prostitution, theft, extortion, violence and even
murder.

That includes the Nanaimo Hells Angels chapter.

"The Nanaimo chapter is one of the oldest chapters in Canada, and we
still consider them a viable criminal group," Ryan said.

Last year police swooped in on the Nanaimo clubhouse as part of
Project Halo, a lengthy investigation that resulted in the arrest and
charging of four club members for conspiracy to traffic cocaine - two
from Nanaimo and two members from the Keswick, Ont. chapter.

The province considers its new combined force a model for Canada. By
sharing resources it frees up another $4 million to fight criminals
who are themselves becoming better organized and working
cooperatively.

The B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police recently signed an agreement
officially recognizing the new unit, which has been operating since
2004.

"Our mandate is to target organized crime and one of our priorities as
part of that is to target the outlaw motorcycle gangs, and of course
in this province, including the Island, the Hells Angels are the most
prominent outlaw motorcycle gang," Ryan said.

It can be difficult proving the link between motorcycle clubs and
organized crime.

"I think the best proof is when we are able to put a charge before the
courts," Ryan said.

"Under Halo, we sought approval on several charges but we did not get
approval to proceed - to charging - for a wide variety of offences,
including criminal organization, prostitution and extortion."

The work will continue, she said.