Halifax, Nova Scotia (December 21, 2018) BTN — The Hells
Angels have re-established an evolving presence in Atlantic Canada, although
experts say they have not expanded their roster of full-patch members since
first reappearing in the region more than two years ago.
Police and organized crime experts say it's not clear why
the country's most powerful motorcycle club has not found any local prospects
worthy of full membership, but confirm the Angels are retrenching after their
former Halifax chapter was smashed by police in 2001.
Stephen Schneider, a criminology professor at Saint Mary's
University who has written extensively on organized crime, believes the
establishment of a new puppet club in the last year -- the Red Devils -- is a
significant sign of intent.
"The Red Devils is pretty much their sort of AAA
affiliate club internationally," said Schneider. "So this is a signal
that the Hells Angels have not given up and that they are really serious about
their presence in Atlantic Canada."
The Red Devils have set up chapters in Moncton, N.B., and in
Halifax.
The members of the Halifax Red Devils chapter, which was set
up in July, were recruited from two other motorcycle clubs, the Gatekeepers and the
Darksiders, according to RCMP Staff Sgt. Guylaine Cottreau of the Criminal
Intelligence Service Nova Scotia.
"They were known to the Hells Angels and they came from
the already existing support clubs," said Cottreau. "We have no Hells
Angels prospects ... but they still have a good footprint in the province with
their support clubs."
Cottreau said there had been a Nova Scotia prospects
chapter, but it fell below six members this fall, and they've since become
prospects for the Hells Angels in New Brunswick, where a Hells Angels Nomads
club includes some full patch members that were transplanted to that province.
She said in addition to the Red Devils, Nova Scotia has a
series of other motorcycle clubs, including Darksiders clubs in Dartmouth and the
Annapolis Valley, Sedition clubs in Fall River and Weymouth, and Highlanders
clubs in Antigonish, Pictou County, and Cape Breton.
Experts believe the Angels are looking to expand territory
and crack the drug trade in a region with several thousand kilometres of
coastline, which makes it easier to import drugs.
The only so-called group of one percenters -- the elite
outlaw bikers -- in Nova Scotia is the Bacchus Motorcycle Club, which appears
to have reached a detente region-wide with the Angels. It was also declared a
criminal organization in a July ruling by a Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge --
a move that has the potential to put a damper on its activities because it
establishes tougher sentencing for crimes carried out to benefit the club.
Meanwhile, a traditional rival group for the Hells Angels,
the Outlaws, has also pushed into the region with support clubs known as the
Black Pistons in Fredericton and in Sydney, N.S., where they set up shop
earlier this year.
The Outlaws and Bacchus also operate in Newfoundland, along
with several Hells Angels support clubs.
"Right now it is peaceful, however they (Outlaws MC) are
the main rival group to the Hells Angels so there is potential there (for
violence)," Cottreau said.
Schneider said he finds it surprising that the Outlaws MC are
trying to move into Atlantic Canada after failing to emerge as a significant
threat to the Hells Angels in Ontario. "They have chutzpah I'll give them that,"
Schneider said. "They are still in there battling and trying to establish
territory."
In Prince Edward Island there are two Bacchus club chapters
and one affiliate chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle club. RCMP Cpl. Andy Cook said the Hells Angels are down to six prospect
members from 10 in P.E.I. and none of the bikers are full-patch. He said
stepped up police enforcement likely led to some members leaving the club.
"Some of the incidents were probably not very
attractive to the Hells Angels who are frequently trying to portray themselves
in a positive light in the media," he said.
While it's believed the Port of Halifax is the main prize
coveted by the Angels, police say they're not aware of any activity there. Schneider, who recently completed a study for the federal
government on organized crime in marine ports, said he hasn't seen any direct
evidence either.
"I didn't see any known Hells Angels members working on
the docks in Halifax, but that's not saying they aren't, or there aren't
associates," he said.
Schneider said the Angels' influence has suffered setbacks
through police enforcement actions such as the arrest in July of prominent New
Brunswick member Emery Martin on 10 drug-related offences. However he believes
it was the success of a crackdown years before against the motorcycle club in
Quebec that has had the most impact.
In April 2009, Operation SharQc resulted in 156 arrests and
the closure of several of the biker gang's clubhouses, however many of the
court cases eventually fell through and Schneider said the Hells Angels have
seen a resurgence in Quebec that has implications for the Atlantic region.
"They are in a better position to help Atlantic Canada
establish chapters and puppet clubs. Having the Red Devils set up in Moncton is
significant because they are a Tier 1 puppet group that has long been
associated with the Montreal chapter of the Hells Angels."
Cottreau said police are aware of the emerging threat and
observed a Quebec Hells Angels presence in the region over the summer.
She said police will move to enforce the law against the
Angels where and when they can.
"We are trying to disrupt and dismantle them but it is
a big task. They are a pretty well established organization."
