Pubdate: Fri, 07 Sep 2001 Source: Prince George Citizen (CN BC) Copyright: 2001 Prince George Citizen Contact: http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/350 Author: Karen Kwan RCMP REVIVES ORGANIZED CRIME SECTION Mounties are escalating their fight against organized crime in northern B.C., the RCMP's top brass says. With the addition of another officer last month, the North District's criminal intelligence section (CIS) now has two officers investigating crime rings, said Supt. Mike Morris. That might not seem like much in the way of resources, but until last October the district didn't have a unit to deal solely with organized crime. ``It's just an area we were a little deficient in. There's a lot going on in the northern half of the province as far as organized crime goes, and we have to stay on top of it,'' Morris said. A previous unit was disbanded in the 1980s due to cutbacks, but over the past five years Morris said he's fought to revive the section. Organized crime is a ``significant'' problem in northern B.C., he said. ``It's an increasing problem. We've noticed increasing activity every year for the past several years.'' Organized crime describes illegal schemes planned and executed by a group, the proceeds of which are shared among the members. Crime rings can range from complex mafia-style hierarchies to outlaw motorcycle gangs and more casual clusters. They have been involved in many types of offences, but drug production and trafficking, major thefts, prostitution and intimidation are among the most common, said Cpl. Gerry Marshinew, who heads the CIS unit. In the North, outlaw motorcycle gangs account for much of the organized crime, he said. ``They are a force to be reckoned with and are getting bigger and stronger.'' Smaller communities are also being infiltrated by crime groups, Marshinew said. For example, the local drug trafficker, who isn't necessarily a member of a criminal organization, may have obtained drugs that were distributed by a crime group, he said. Morris said crime groups generate millions of dollars each year through their illegal activities. Compared with the CIS, which receives 250,000 a year in funding, the sides are unevenly matched, he said. The CIS plays a co-ordinating role, receiving information on organized crime, investigating and analyzing the data, then disseminating the intelligence to other RCMP units, which are responsible for enforcement, Marshinew said. Prior to the establishment of the unit, intelligence gathering was done by various units during the course of their other investigations, Morris said. ``No doubt our success rate in tracking down and prosecuting organized crime groups will improve.'' He said he hopes the unit will help police identify some of the big players in organized crime. To create the CIS, Morris said RCMP arranged to transfer a position from southern B.C. and one from the Tumbler Ridge detachment, which didn't require as many officers once the Quintette Coal mine closed and the population dwindled. One position is funded by the province, while the other is paid by the federal government. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh