Pubdate: Thu, 13 Nov 2008
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 The Vancouver Sun
Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Kim Bolan, Staff Writer

ORGANIZED CRIME BRANCHING OUT

E-Waste Is New Source Of Loot For Criminals, RCMP Commissioner
Says

Organized criminals in Canada still rely on the drug trade for
profits, but are branching out into all kinds of new illegal
businesses, RCMP Commissioner William Elliott said Wednesday.

Elliott told the Vancouver Board of Trade that some members of the 900
identifiable crime groups in Canada are also involved in commercial
crimes such as vehicle theft, credit card fraud, trafficking in human
organs and even the illegal disposal of electronic waste such as
computers and cellphones.

"Criminal networks can profit by collecting e-waste in developed
nations and exporting it to so-called recyclers in developing
countries where it is often handled improperly," Elliott said. "This
is a violation of Canadian and international law and it is creating an
environmental and human health crisis."

As organized crime has grown, it has also become more sophisticated,
subcontracting out some of its illegal activity, said Elliott, who was
appointed to the top job 16 months ago.

"It is also becoming more fluid," he said. "Crime groups are now
forming temporary alliances with what we refer to as criminal service
providers who perpetrate crime."

But crime groups are still heavily involved in the drug trade,
particularly in the three largest urban centres in Canada -- Montreal,
Toronto and Vancouver.

"Illegal drugs are still the mainstay of organized crime and we see
the deleterious effects in our communities across the country," he
said. "One need only to drive along East Hastings -- as I did last
evening -- to see the shocking and terrible impact of organized crime
and illicit drugs on our communities."

Elliott outlined the RCMP's priorities, including a commitment to
Olympic security and efforts to combat terrorist threats across the
country.

"In the post 9/11 world, Canadians have realized that the threat of
violence at the hands of extremists in Canada is all too real, as
dramatically confirmed recently by the first convictions under
Canada's anti-terrorism provisions of the Criminal Code," Elliott said.

He said the RCMP is reaching out to minority communities to develop
more positive relationships.

He said the RCMP is working hard to reform its internal structures and
procedures in light of public controversies such as the Maher Arar
case, a controversy in B.C. over the Tasering death of Robert
Dziekanski, and a recent allegation against a Mountie for impaired
driving causing death.

"I think that the incidents that you refer to are very serious
incidents," Elliott told reporters after his speech. "I think it is
very important to see them in context. And I think it is also
important for the public to have faith in the independent systems that
we have in place to review our activities, including with respect to
all those incidents."

He told the Board of Trade the RCMP is working with the B.C.
government to improve independent oversight mechanisms for Mounties in
the province.
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