Senior officers are satisfied the network acted on behalf of several organised crime gangs from Dublin and Limerick, including the McCarthy Dundon outfit, over the past few years.

Last night two suspects were in garda custody after detectives from the national drugs unit seized an estimated €250,000 in cash, having intercepted a lorry in the Blanchardstown area of west Dublin.

Gardai are also actively investigating a link between the money find and the seizure of about 200 kilos of cannabis herb, with a street value of over €2m, in Rathcoole, Co Dublin.

Officers said last night that the loss of the money and the drugs -- which had cost a Dublin trafficking gang around €600,000 -- had dealt substantial financial blows to two crime gangs.

Network

One of those being questioned last night is the suspected leader of the financial network, a 67-year-old businessman, originally from the northside of Dublin but living in Kilmeague, Naas, Co Kildare.

The man is suspected of having had links in the past to the Provisional IRA. He was detained after gardai carried out searches in north Kildare early yesterday. The earlier arrest of a man in his 30s from Blanchardstown came after the money was found in the truck.

Gardai said the seizures followed an intelligence-led operation over several months targeting organised crime gangs and their associates.

Lorries

Detectives believe the network was transporting cash on behalf of the gangs in lorries making legitimate journeys to mainland Europe and the money was then used to pay for shipments of drugs being smuggled here by others.

They are satisfied that millions of euro were taken out of the country to finance deals struck by the gangs over the past few years.

The two men were being held last night at Blanchardstown garda station on suspicion of money laundering.

Meanwhile, other members of the national unit stopped a van in Rathcoole and searched three barrels in the rear of the vehicle. They discovered the 200 kilos of cannabis herb in the barrels.

Gardai last night described the hiding of the shipment as a very clever concealment.

They believe the drugs were destined for sale in the Dublin area.

Officers arrested a man in his 20s from west Dublin and he was taken to Clondalkin station for questioning under the drug trafficking legislation.

"Between the two seizures, the gangs have suffered a financial loss of around €850,000 

Read More...

Seven members of the Hells Angels and Throttle Lockers Motor Cycle Clubs and their associates were arrested Tuesday on second degree murder charges in the brutal slaying earlier this month of Kelowna resident Dain Eldon Phillips, 51, who died of injuries after he was savagely beaten near his home.
The seven include Robert Leonard Thomas, 46 and Norman Robert Cocks, 31, both full patch members of Kelowna Hells Angels; Robert Charles Cocks, 52, president of Throttle Lockers, a Hells Angels support club; and four associates Daniel Joseph McRae, 20, Matthew Thomas McRae and Anson Lloyd Schell both 19, and Thomas Allen Vaughan, 22.
The early arrests under Project E-Nightshade were made in a sweep by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) of British Columbia, the Kelowna RCMP and the Southeast District Drug Section., were possible as some of the same people were involved in a separate ongoing police investigation code named E-Pixie into gang warfare in Kelowna and Prince George following the attempted murder in September 2010 of a 27-year-old Edmonton resident in downtown Kelowna near Leon Avenue and Abbot Street when his vehicle was riddled with bullets by unknown attackers.
“In recent years, police and citizens alike have seen the troubling trend of gangs and organized crime groups exporting violence from Metro Vancouver into the southeast and northern regions of British Columbia. These individuals show absolute contempt and disregard for society. The gunplay and savage violence on our streets is simply unacceptable,” said CFSEU’s Chief Officer, Supt. Doug Kiloh in a police release.
“When the Province announced a sweeping plan to aggressively target gangs and organised crime in 2009, we wanted to make sure we didn’t just displace gang violence from the Lower Mainland. It was about going after gangs wherever they set up shop in B.C.,” said Solicitor General Shirley Bond. “That is why we expanded the CFSEU units to Kelowna and Prince George and this is further proof that these integrated units are working hard to make our communities safer for B.C. families.”
“The arrests of these members of the Hells Angels or any other criminal group show that we will aggressively pursue any individuals who use violence or threats to protect or to expand their criminal enterprises anywhere in British Columbia,” said Supt Pat Fogarty head of CFSEU’s organised crime section.

Read More...

Members of the gang violence task force along with major-crimes detectives in Kelowna helped in the investigation.

Phillips, 51, died in hospital following a fight between two groups June 12 near McCurdy and Gibson Roads.

Charges have been laid against Robert Leonard Thomas, 45, Norman Robert Cocks, 31, Robert Charles Cocks, 53, David Joseph McRae, 21, Matthew Thomas Mcrae, 19, Anson Lloyd Schell, 19, and Thomas Allen Vaughan, 22.

It's believed Phillips was intervening in an on-going dispute between his sons and two brothers they had known in high school.

Phillips was fatally beaten with hammers and baseball bats.

Norman Cocks and Robert Thomas are the first patch-wearing Hells Angels to be accused of murder in the 28-year history of the biker gang in BC.

Read More...

Two city homes were shot at within the last two days and CTV News has learned this may be the result of rising tensions between rival Winnipeg gangs.

A house on Stranmillis Avenue was shot at just before 4 a.m. Wednesday morning. Moments later, the couple sleeping inside say they noticed smoke pouring from the basement. Their son lives there, but he wasn't home.

CTV News has learned their son is the current president of the Rock Machine gang and was the intended target.

Just a day before, another home with alleged ties to the Rock Machine was shot at on Canberra Road.

"The incidents look similar in nature. Our organized crime unit is investigating both but at this time they are being investigated as separate," said Const. Natalie Aitken of the Winnipeg Police Service.

In February 2010, CTV News first reported of a feud brewing between the Hells Angels, their affiliates, the Redlined Support Crew and the Rock Machine.

In a search warrant, one veteran officer stated tensions were high and violence imminent. This came after a member of the Rock Machine was lured to a business on St. Mary's Road then beaten with a stool by Redlined members.

Police seized a loaded 9mm handgun from a Redlined member's home on Mighton Avenue in Elmwood. They were apparently keeping the gun handy in case of a surprise attack.

The news has left those living on Stranmillis Avenue unsettled. Some residents are concerned this could be the beginning of a summer plagued by gang violence.

The Hells Angels and the Rock Machine have clashed in the past. In the mid 90s in Quebec, 150 people were killed in a biker war, one that didn't end until a truce was called.

Police wouldn't comment on a motive for either shooting. No arrests have been made.

Read More...