Gangs in Canada

Gangs in Canada are present in several of Canada's major cities, and also in some smaller centres. Many gangs cut across cities, including ethnic gangs that recruit among a certain group. For instance, all major cities in the Prairie provinces have native gangs linked to First Nations communities

Types

See also: List of criminal organizations

The John Howard Society's 2001 report identified the following types of gangs present in Alberta:

• Asian gangs (Triads, etc.)
• Aboriginal gangs (Indian Posse, etc.)
• Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs
• Traditional gangs (Montreal Mafia, etc.)
• Racist and Hate Groups
• Eastern European organized crime (Russian mafia, etc.)

In general, gangs in Canada are smaller and more diverse than in the United States, insideprisons.com lists 108 street gangs for the Prairie region alone.

By city

Edmonton

Crazy Dragons have surpassed Hells Angels as the top gang in Alberta. The Crazy Dragons are primarily Asian based with many white members as well. They originate out of Edmonton but have cells throughout Alberta. Crazy Dragons have been linked to supplying Calgary's Asian gangs with guns. there is also the powder kings, listen, flow, and sour, along with s.w.e.d.

Montreal

The Hells Angels operate from a motorcycle club based in Montreal and numerous members have been arrested with quantities of drugs, firearms and homicide charges among others. The Angels fought a war with the Rock Machine and the Bandidos gangs known as the Quebec Biker War. Traditional organized crime has had a presence in the city since the early 1900s, mainly in the form of the Irish West End Gang and Vito Rizzuto's 6th Family. Smaller street gangs made up of mostly youths are pocketed in different areas of the city with Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Le Sud-Ouest, Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension and Montréal-Nord being the most prominent.

Saskatchewan

Adult gangs in Saskatchewan include the Native Syndicate, Indian Posse, Redd Alert, Saskatchewan Warriors, Crazy Cree, Mixed Blood, Tribal Brotherz, and West Side Soldiersin Regina and Saskatoon. There is also a branch of the Hell's Angels in the province. Youth gangs include Crips, Junior Mixed Blood, Indian Mafia Crips, North Central Rough Riderz and Hill Side Warriors (H.S.W.) aka Hill Side (H.S.). Saskatchewan had the highest concentration of gang membership at 1.34 per 1000 in 2002

Toronto

There has been a recent surge in gun violence in the greater Toronto area, with a sharp increase in 2004. The most notable incident was the Boxing Day shooting, resulting in the death of 15-year-old bystander Jane Creba on December 26 2005 on Yonge Street. The incident was a shootout between rival gangs.

Ottawa

There are approximately 600 gang members in Ottawa.More than half of Ottawa's 600 confirmed street gang members were born outside of Canada(and the membership of Ottawa's two "predominant" gangs -- the West Side Bloods and the Ledbury Banff Crips is made up of 57 different nationalities).The Ledbury-Banff Crips (LBC) reside in the area cited in their name, they are notorious for Drug Trafficking, Fraud and Prostitution, they've been linked to several shootings and violent crimes throughout the city (mostly in the South end) and are even active in Calgary with Ottawa Police alleging that more than 15 members moved to the city in pursuit of more money out west. In November 2005 Nnanyere Obiorah, who police allege is the leader of the LBC was arrested along with several other gang members during an April 2004 police operation against the gang following a shooting in Caldwell but was released shortly after due to the lack of evidence in his case.In July 2008 Remy Maliragora member of the LBC was charged with possession of stolen property, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of break-in instruments, theft and robbery and was deported to Rwanda his home country , similar to another LBC member Sharmarke Ali who was also deported to Ethiopia earlier that year.The (Ottawa) Westside Bloods who's members tend to reside in, mostly the Ritchie and Ramsey streets, Dumaurier Avenue and Michele Heights areas, are arguably the largest street gang operating in the West end and are known for a series of violent encounters with gang members from the South end throughout the early 2000s. They have a significant influence over the drug trade in the West end and a strong presence at the Innes Rd. correctional facility in the East end. The Double R Bloods, who are from the westside represent the Ritchie and Ramsey areas.Chadi Wehbe an alleged member of the West Side Bloods was arrested or robbing a cab driver and then stealing the cab (When he was arrested, he punched a police officer in the head) also last summer, several West Side Bloods members were accused of threatening witnesses to a break-in and subsequent fire at a Dumaurier Avenue townhouse.Witnesses gave statements and more than 40 criminal charges were laid against four men and two youths, all of whom were alleged to be gang members but in the end, all but two of the charges were withdrawn. Days later, four other accused gang members were arrested for allegedly occupying a Ritchie Street residence and holding a woman and her family members hostage for a month.Earlier that week, three men were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a woman, hitting her with a two-by-four, pointing a sawed-off shotgun at her and forcing her to pay money to a fourth individual, the criminals were said to have ties with the Westside bloods including a D Block member known as Jones aka Dahir M Adam . Four days after these arrests, more intruders showed up with a message: If you talk, there will be consequences. While three men faced charges in connection with this incident, only one was found guilty: Mr. Wehbe. Those are the charges he intends to keep fighting.There are a small multitude of other street gangs in Ottawa including: The Southside Crips, Cedarwood Crips (C.C), H-Block Crips, Hell's Angels, Asian Boyz,Viet Boyz, Overbrook Bloods, Baycrest Crips, Eastside Mafia Crips,D Block Mobstaz, Sandlewood Crips, Esson-Chrisland Crips (ECC), Huntclub Crips (HCC) , Russel ridas , Russel Crips,Overbrook Crips, Donald Project Gangstas and Bell Street Goblins.

Vancouver

In Vancouver, the most powerful and feared gangs are the hells angels, The Big Circle boys & The United Nations Gang which is a puppet gang of the triads. There are Chinese Triad mafias and eastern European mafias established in the lower mainland.

Winnipeg

A street gang known as the Mad Kowz is active in mostly Central neighbourhoods, recruiting from African nationalities. There are multiple aboriginal gangs, such as the Indian Posse, Broadway/B-Side and Native Syndicate as well as smaller street sets in various neighbourhoods. A mostly white gang known as the Zig Zags cooperate with the Hells Angels and are active mainly in the Fort Rouge and Central neighbourhoods. 1-percenter motorcycle gangs are known to operate in the city, for example the Los Bravos Hells Angels and the Bandidos.

Halifax

The most well known Halifax street gang is North Preston's Finest, due to their prostitution ring, with which they tricked or threatened Nova Scotian women into going to Toronto to work the streets as prostitutes. NPF recruits mainly from the historic black community of North Preston, Nova Scotia. Other gangs include the Spry-Town Mafia based in the Spryfield area, many Bloods and Crips gangs based throughout Halifax and sister city Dartmouth. Biker gangs such as the Hells Angels also play a key role in Halifax's gang world, but recent arrests have limited their power.

See also

• Crime in Canada