Hell's Angels Busted in Thunder Bay

[Rasta_Man]

Whether you like it or not, the Hell's Angels are responsible for much of the marijuana distribution in north america.

Looks like thunder bay will be having some market problems.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...0118/20060119/

Dozens of Hells Angels arrested across country

Updated Thu. Jan. 19 2006 12:03 PM ET
<SCRIPT language=javascript type=text/javascript> var byString = ""; var sourceString = "Canadian Press"; if ((sourceString != "") && (byString != "")) { document.write(byString + ", "); } else { document.write(byString); }</SCRIPT>Canadian Press
<!-- dateline -->TORONTO <!-- /dateline -->— Senior members of the Hells Angels are alleged to be among several people arrested Wednesday in a major sweep centred in northwestern Ontario that followed a two-year investigation into the biker gang, police said.
Police declined to comment on the exact number of people taken into custody, but one officer called the raids a "very large takedown.''
"This operation will have a significant impact on the Hells Angels in Ontario and the local community,'' said Insp. Don Bell, head of the Ontario Provincial Police biker enforcement unit.
Police would not comment on a report that the reputed national leader of the gang was among those arrested in a raid southwestern Ontario.
Waterloo regional police assisted in a raid on a Cambridge address at about 6:30 Wednesday morning, Insp. Bryan Larkin told the Waterloo Region Record.
Larkin would not name those arrested but said the charges were of the "typical'' kind associated with biker gangs.
The investigation and raids, dubbed Project Husky, involved a "significant'' number of officers led by provincial police, Bell said.
Even local police had no idea of the raids until after the fact, with one officer describing the extensive probe and ensuing raids as "very hush-hush.''
"We're still in the process of sorting everything out,'' Bell said from the police command post.
"The operation is ongoing right now, but suffice it to say that it's your traditional charges that are associated with outlaw motorcycle gangs.''
Police used an explosive device to enter the Hells Angels clubhouse in Thunder Bay, Ont., and planned to show a video clip of the tactical unit's entry and raid at a news conference Thursday in the northwestern Ontario city.
The Hells Angels have a long history in Thunder Bay and operate a clubhouse on the city's south side.
One nearby resident told the Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal he heard a noise in the middle of the night that sounded like a "sonic boom'' and when he awoke at daybreak, he saw the front door had been forced open.
While police remained tight-lipped, 17 suspects made video appearances in Thunder Bay's Ontario Court of Justice.
The 13 men and four women all face multiple criminal charges, and appeared one-by-one in a lengthy late-night hearing. All but two face charges related to cocaine trafficking. Other counts include possession of stolen property, forgery and conspiracy to commit assault.
The suspects remain in custody and were to make video court appearances later this week to set dates for their bail hearings.
While the focus of the probe was northwestern Ontario, the raids also involved action in Quebec and Alberta, Bell said.
Police in Calgary said their involvement involved only the execution of a search warrant.
"That resulted in the seizure of some documentation,'' said Calgary police spokesman Don Stewart.
A spokesman for Surete du Quebec in Montreal referred calls to provincial police in Thunder Bay.
The raids are another blow to the Hells Angels, who have 34 chapters in Canada.
Last year, 45 members or associates were charged or convicted in a major RCMP operation in British Columbia, and Quebec has also successfully prosecuted several leading members of the gang.
Canadian authorities estimate there are about 1,200 motorcycle gang members in Canada, most of whom belong to the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos.

[TheColonel]

Hmm. Well out of 1200 canadian members, 17 doesnt seem like too big of a hit, unless they got some higher-ups, but that doesnt seem to be conclusive.

Personally, i say lock em up. Even though they are responsible for a lot of MJ in north america, they have their hand in a lot of other shit that influences peoples views on MJ users in a negative light. The more irresponsible people that get locked up means there are more of the good ones making the impressions. I would rather have people associate pot use w/ lazy people than a notorious gang responsible for violence, and the trafficking of hard drugs across a continent.

[legalizebud89]

Originally Posted by Rasta_Man

Even local police had no idea of the raids until after the fact, with one officer describing the extensive probe and ensuing raids as "very hush-hush.''

The best part is, they didnt even know until the day they got caught


I would say put them in jail, but only on the fact of how big the operation is and how marijuana IMO in this situation was tookin as a way to make money and not as more of a drug or controlled substance. I personally associate with weed to get high, not to make a profit or make money off of it.

[br3ad_]

Sucks....3 mil in drugs or some shit like that.

[hoast]

Im assured that all my bud is grown locally, and in most cases I know the grower or of him..I trust him, since 4th grade.