HELLS ANGELS CLIPPED
DRUG BUSTS: Senior Hells Angels members arrested in police raids in Kelowna and other B.C. communities
The RCMP claim to have smashed a major international drug ring on the weekend with a series of raids in Kelowna, Kamloops, Osoyoos, Vernon and Coquitlam.
The raids involved the Kelowna chapter of the Hells Angels and resulted in the arrests of senior Hells Angels members.
“This investigation has taken out some of the highest levels,” said Supt. Brian Cantera of the RCMP Drug Enforcement Branch in B.C. “This case represents a blueprint of Canadian-based organized crime.”
Cantera, displaying $4 million of suspected drug money and a Thompson sub-machine gun, said RCMP believe that an international drug distribution network has been shut down with their 20-month investigation dubbed E-Predicate.
“This investigation highlights the RCMP’s international reach in the pursuit of evidence, and the continuing requirement to apply a global approach to the drug-enforcement challenge,” he said.
The investigation followed the movement of huge quantities of pot, cocaine and synthetic drugs across the border in both directions.
David Giles, the vice-president of the Kelowna chapter of the Hells Angels with ties to the East End chapter, was arrested over the weekend in a Burnaby casino. He is charged with conspiracy to import and traffic a controlled substance.
Brian Oldham, a senior member with the Kelowna chapter who has not yet been arrested, faces charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking a controlled substance. A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Kevin Van Kalkeren, Michael Read and James Howard have been charged with importing and trafficking a controlled substance. Orhan Saydam, Murray Trekofski and Shawn Womacks have been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.
RCMP focused on marijuana grow ops in the Okanagan that were being used to help import cocaine into Canada.
Covert operations were conducted in Panama, Mexico, the U.S. and other parts of Canada.
By taking out the big players in the drug business, the RCMP hopes the violence will end, said RCMP Assistant Commissioner Wayne Rideout of the organized crime and investigative services unit.
“[Drugs are] the foundation of a lot of the violence we see in this province,” he said. “In order to stop the violence, this is what we have to do.”
Hells Angels spokesman Rick Ciarniello said he had no comment.
“I don’t know any first-hand information,” he said. “I have no idea what [the RCMP] have.”
Hells Angels expert Julian Sher said the police sting will mainly affect the gang’s image.
“Every time there’s a major raid like this, it’s bad PR,” he said. “[The Hells Angels] always try to present themselves as kind of lovable rebels.”
The arrests are “bad for business because you can’t do your gang work if you’re in jail or if you’re fighting court restrictions,” he added.
But the gang is “amazingly resilient,” he said.
While senior members face court charges, other soldiers will step up.
“So an arrest in one club or in one area doesn’t necessarily weaken them elsewhere in the province,” said Sher.