June 15, 2006: Drugs, Gangs, Whistleblowers ...

and articles related to the work Rob Stenhouse and others were doing on gangs, drugs, and how to combat this -- also links that have changed and a new report on the RCMP April 2006

Frost Hits the Rhubarb: October 10, 2004 -- Taking Care of Business: Criminal Gang Activity in Canada, Prostitution, Medical Pot
http://
frosthitstherhubarb.blogspot.com/
2004_10_10_frosthitstherhubarb_archive.html

Stenhouse Related: B.C.'s Hells Angels: Rich and Powerful, by Lori Culbert and Neal Hall, Judith Lavoie, Vancouver Sun and Victoria Times Colonist, Published: Saturday, September 11, 2004
http://
www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/features
/onlineextras/story.html?id=f525bc8a-d80a-4ece-9ffc-f5a2a55a43b0

Note:

One of those who worked on the Western Wind file was former RCMP officer Pat Convey, now an inspector with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit. Convey was among those critical in the book of the handling of the case. "It happened and I'm not going to go into it again," he said in an interview. "Yes, I got my knuckles rapped [for speaking out in the book]. I'm not in the RCMP any more."

There is a list of other columns at the end.

Why is Convey not with the RCMP any more? How is the new attempt to pass effective whistleblower legislation coming along?

In my humble opinion, the usual suspects, through the mainstream media, are fighting any change to the way things have been done (and which so many understand?) for many years. I wonder why. CTV, CBC and the BellGlobeMedia empire should do some investigating ... but then, there is that problem with having a Conservative government now and CRTC ruling(s) ........ $$$ to be made, if only ......... a Liberal government returns things to ....... well, the way things were. Perhaps it is better for business not to investigate some things. Of course, I am simply surmising.

The rich and powerful Hells Angels motorcycle club in B.C. ... expanding ... cementing their territorial stake on organized crime.

[....]

Eight years ago, ... 70 so-called full-patch members and five chapters in B.C. Today, ... 95 ... seven chapters: ...

[....]

... roughly 2,000 members worldwide ... Canada, the U.S., Europe, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and South America.

Canada has more Hells Angels members per capita than any other country ...

[....]

The huge profits ... drug trade ... to establish legitimate businesses ....

[....]

The public is also affected by the hundreds of Hells Angels "associates" -- a network of friends of club members who have been known to infiltrate the country's ports, phone companies, the post office and other government offices where private information can be obtained about citizens who run afoul of the Angels.

"The ports is an example where they use their associates to facilitate criminal activity," said Inspector Andy Richards, in charge of the outlaw motorcycle gang unit within the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, the successor to the Organized Crime Agency of B.C.

"The telephone company, or Shaw Cable or ICBC, that's an example where they've just got this wide-range of contacts ... where they can just make a phone call and get something done, if they need to, for example, run a licence plate," Richards said.

[....]

... a list of the top-20 organized-crime figures in B.C. and nearly half are Hells Angels members.

[....]

... the Western Wind debacle, detailed in the recent book The Road to Hell: How the Biker Gangs are Conquering Canada. Written by Julian Sher and William Marsden, ... a chance to nail drug-dealers for $330 million worth of cocaine ... fisherman offered ... headed for Victoria.

... wanted to be paid $1 million and be placed in witness protection, but [....]

One of those who worked on the Western Wind file was former RCMP officer Pat Convey, now an inspector with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit. Convey was among those critical in the book of the handling of the case. "It happened and I'm not going to go into it again," he said in an interview. "Yes, I got my knuckles rapped [for speaking out in the book]. I'm not in the RCMP any more."

[....] Special News Series [.... with the list of articles]

The article is lengthy, detailed and worth reading.

Within the last while, fortunately, that Western Wind situation has been ameliorated through dedicated efforts and co-operation in investigating and apprehending criminals ... alleged criminals. Check FHTR for a post on it.







Gremlins at Links? -- and a new report on the RCMP

Earlier today I pointed readers to the following; since then I have found that links may be corrupted or changed.

http://
frosthitstherhubarb.blogspot.com/
2005_10_02_frosthitstherhubarb_archive.html

Undercover Mountie -- a copy of an article published in Maclean's from Nov. 26, 01 by Robert Sheppard

The link has changed to [www.nvweather.net/messages/organic_teas_290.html] which is wrong. How did that happen? Again, gremlin spoor and no answer. It must have been worth changing ... for someone.

However, all is not lost; see
http://
www.nplguide.com/secure/tri_13/tri_13_Ca_Cho.htm

http://
www.google.com/search?q=cache:e6gixzDJ76
QJ:www.nplguide.com/secure/tri_13/tri_13_Ca_Cho.htm
+Robert+Sheppard,+Undercover+Mountie,+Macleans
&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=4&client=firefox-a
Law Envorcement
Undercover Mountie Maclean's Vol.114 No.48 Nov 26 2001 p14 R Sheppard

Even better, for a later study, check:
pdf format:
http://
www.fraserinstitute.ca/admin/books/
files/BureaucratsInUniform.pdf

html format cached:
http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:CRvgYZe2YYIJ:www.fraserinstitute.ca/admin/books/files/BureaucratsInUniform.pdf+Robert+Sheppard,+Undercover+Mountie,+Macleans&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=3&client=firefox-a
Title: BureaucratsinUniform ThePoliticizationandDeclineofthe RoyalCanadianMountedPolice [sic] ...

Bureaucrats in Uniform
The Politicization and Decline of the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police

by Barry Cooper, Fraser Institute Digital Publication, April 2006

[...] Among the most serious reasons advanced for the current problems in the Force is that it has become politicized in the sense that it responds directly to political instructions. [...]

Engaging, detailed and documented.


Another link no longer available:
Check here for whether Stenhouse was onto something -- lengthy and full of information. Do not miss this article.
Available perhaps in an archive at the Vancouver Sun or in a library.
http://
www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/news/
story.html?id=e5e3e3e6-31fb-4315-9687-c8f2a7e54952


Whistleblower Legislation, Whistleblowers, Qui Tam & Related in particular, Oct. 25, 2005 which refers to FHTR May 15, 2005
http://
frosthitstherhubarb.blogspot.com/
2005_05_15_frosthitstherhubarb_archive.html

Whistleblower related: If only the Liberals could keep Canadians from knowing the truth -- Whistleblowers and More [May 16, 2005]