Pubdate: Sat, 08 Aug 2009 Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB) Page: 4 Copyright: 2009 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.winnipegsun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503 Author: Chris Kitching CRIMINALS TRY TO GET ALONG Money Fuels Co-Operation While some street gangs battle for turf, a share of the drug trade or because of hatred, there's a "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" kind of harmony in some circles of Winnipeg's ever-evolving organized crime underworld. In an emerging trend, some groups who you'd think would be rivals associate with each other and act like business partners, primarily to bring large amounts of cocaine and other drugs into Manitoba for big money, according to detectives who monitor and police the activities of organized crime groups. "In a lot of these groups there's a lot of co-operation and inter-mingling," said Det. Ryan Howanyk of the Winnipeg police organized crime unit, which investigates outlaw motorcycle gangs, Asian organized crime, street gangs and independent drug cells. "It's always gone on at a personal level. Now, it's done more organization to organization," said Det. Nick Leone. The biggest reason groups co-operate is the thing that drives them -- money. Plus, conflict or violence in public is bad for business because it brings unwanted heat from authorities, and seasoned gang members know you can't make money when you're sitting in jail or beefing with rivals, detectives said during a private seminar about gangs, drugs and illegal firearms yesterday. Some are associated or possibly aligning with larger organized crime groups in B.C., where a bloody war is being waged in the Vancouver area. That's another trend investigators have noticed -- the increasing influence B.C. groups are having in Manitoba. "They see there's a market here and just like any business they're going to exploit that," Leone said. Detectives discussed the dynamics of street gangs and organized crime groups, among other topics during the six-hour session. They also shared a new spin in the world of the Hells Angels' Manitoba chapter, which is still open despite two large police stings which put several members and associates behind bars. Detectives said a new group called Redlined has moved in and is associated with the Angels. Police say they're doing their best to crack organized crime groups but it's difficult because of the level of sophistication at which they operate and the fact high-ranking members insulate themselves with dozens of associates. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom