Pubdate: Thu, 26 Oct 2006 Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Copyright: 2006, The Globe and Mail Company Contact: http://www.globeandmail.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168 Author: Shannon Kari Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise public figures or officials RCMP MAY HAVE BROKEN DRUG LAWS, JUDGE TOLD VANCOUVER -- The RCMP may have breached the country's drug laws when it permitted an informant to traffic large amounts of methamphetamine during a Hells Angels investigation, a B.C. Supreme Court judge heard yesterday. The informant, [Name redacted] , was allowed to transport nearly 20 kilograms of methamphetamine in 2003 and early 2004 while he was on bail on an extortion charge. Defence lawyer Don Morrison suggested the RCMP was acting "without statutory shelter," when it allowed him to traffic in drugs and commit other criminal acts while under police observation. Mr. Morrison is representing [Name redacted] , on trial with [Name redacted] on charges related to the alleged trafficking of a kilo of methamphetamine in September, 2004. The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act permits police to authorize a person under its "direction and control," to commit drug offences as part of a criminal probe. But the RCMP did not seek formal authorizations for[Name redacted] to engage in drug trafficking until April, 2004, several months after he began his association with police. Corporal Doug Collins testified yesterday that [Name redacted] was not under the "direction and control" of police until the spring of 2004, when he signed an agreement with the RCMP under which he may ultimately receive $1-million for his undercover work. Mr. Morrison asked the officer if he was aware of the "aiding and abetting" sections of the Criminal Code, which make it illegal to assist in the commission of an offence or omit to do something so it can take place. Cpl. Collins, one of [Name redacted] first police handlers, said he was aware of the sections. He explained the RCMP permitted the activity because the former strip club bouncer was being used "as part of a large investigation" into the east-end chapter of the Hells Angels in Vancouver. The decision to allow [Name redacted] to engage in criminal activities so he could infiltrate the Hells Angels was made by Chief Superintendent Bob Paulson, who headed the $7-million RCMP investigation. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine