An RCMP team targeting illegal gambling in British Columbia wrote a report more than a year ago warning that organized crime figures were likely involved in those activities. Three months later, the investigative unit that was funded by the provincial government was shut down. But a separate internal report the unit prepared in December of 2007 evaluating its future stated that high-level illegal gambling targets would conduct their operations with "impunity" if the team were disbanded.
The provincial ministry responsible for gaming didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. However, gaming minister Rich Coleman has insisted in the past that illegal gambling is just as well-policed now as it was when the integrated anti-illegal-gaming enforcement team was still around. He has said the team was shut down because it was inefficient, had a high staff turnover rate, hadn't prepared a business plan and was redundant.
He has also stressed that the province has "the highest security - both visual and people on site" when asked about criminal activity at legal gambling facilities.
The now-defunct unit's warning about organized crime's involvement in illegal gambling came in a threat assessment that it prepared for its governing board - which included government representatives - and was dated Jan. 29, 2009.
It also advised that Hells Angels members had, in some cases, succeeded in infiltrating the province's "legitimate gaming operations."
The assessment, which was obtained via an access to information request, recommended the RCMP unit "take a leadership role in a provincewide co-ordinated enforcement initiative to combat organized crime elements engaged in illegal gambling."
But the team's doors were closed on April 1, 2009. ... read more
The provincial ministry responsible for gaming didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. However, gaming minister Rich Coleman has insisted in the past that illegal gambling is just as well-policed now as it was when the integrated anti-illegal-gaming enforcement team was still around. He has said the team was shut down because it was inefficient, had a high staff turnover rate, hadn't prepared a business plan and was redundant.
He has also stressed that the province has "the highest security - both visual and people on site" when asked about criminal activity at legal gambling facilities.
The now-defunct unit's warning about organized crime's involvement in illegal gambling came in a threat assessment that it prepared for its governing board - which included government representatives - and was dated Jan. 29, 2009.
It also advised that Hells Angels members had, in some cases, succeeded in infiltrating the province's "legitimate gaming operations."
The assessment, which was obtained via an access to information request, recommended the RCMP unit "take a leadership role in a provincewide co-ordinated enforcement initiative to combat organized crime elements engaged in illegal gambling."
But the team's doors were closed on April 1, 2009. ... read more
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