>>> International Longshoremen’s Association
Smuggling
A Senate Committee of Canada continued its hearings into National Security and Defence during the first quarter of this year. Addressing the committee in January was
Chief Superintendent Ian Atkins, the RCMP’s head of criminal operations in Nova Scotia, who reported that the RCMP ran checks on 500 members of the International Longshoremen's Association working on the Halifax ports and found 187 – or 37 per cent – had criminal records, including convictions for drugs, assault and impaired driving.
The RCMP polices only a small portion of the Halifax port facilities, but it initiated the background checks here in 2000 after discovering problems in Montreal, where the numbers are similar.
Atkins said there is no link between the union and organized crime, but admitted he is worried those with criminal backgrounds could be “enticed” to participate in waterfront crime.
However, the head of the International Longshoremen's Association, representing port checkers, gearmen, stevedores and watchmen, has accused the RCMP of sensationalizing. Gerald Murphy, president of Local 269 of the union, said he wonders if that might show many convictions happened long ago and involved offences like impaired driving, assault and domestic disputes that have nothing to do with the port.
Atkins said security at the port needs to be as rigid as security at Halifax International Airport. Since Sept. 11, what goes through the port has come under scrutiny as police and others, like the committee, come to grips with potential terrorist threats.
Canada's marine ports have been a major conduit for drug smuggling, the illegal export and import of stolen automobiles, and the theft of containers and their cargo. U.S. and Canadian officials also fear Halifax and other ports could end up as staging grounds for nuclear or biological attacks. .
A multi-agency investigation of port crime now underway suggests the criminal networks may be linked to ports in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. The Hells Angels, in particular have been identified as pervasive at Vancouver's ports.
The hearings in Halifax were one of the last of the Senate committee, which issued its Report on National Security and Defence in late February. Among its wide-ranging recommendations was that a full-blown public inquiry into the security of the country's seaports be conducted.
Organized crime has its claws in the ports, the committee warned, threatening the Canadian economy and North American security. Senator Colin Kenny, chairman of the Senate committee said criminal groups in and around ports could become tools of terrorists.
The Senate report warned that organized crime groups are “generally active” in Canada's port system and can make entire shipping containers disappear. An “extraordinarily high percentage of port employees have criminal records,” the report said, adding that criminals gravitate to ports because of opportunities to pilfer goods.
The accusations of a possible organized crime presence on Canada’s seaports were met with derision from port corporation officials. Crime is not rampant in the Port of Montreal, according to its head, Dominic Taddeo. He said while there is criminal activity at the port, it is not as bad as Senator Colin Kenny says.
Kevin Waite, president of the International Longshoremen's Association, said he was astounded by the senate report. His union represents 125 checkers who figure out whether containers leave by train or truck when a ship is unloaded. Waite said the report contains many errors, and appears to be just an attack on port workers.
Sources: “RCMP say more than one-third of Halifax port employees have criminal records.” Canadian Press Newswire. January 23 2002; Peter McLaughlin. “Port urged to run tighter ship: Mounties fear breaches of security at port after checks show 37 per cent of Halifax longshoremen have criminal records.” The Halifax Daily News. January 24 2002; John Ward. “A Senate committee says the military should get more money and people and recommends a full-blown public inquiry into the security of the country's seaports.” Canadian Press Newswire. March 1 2002; George Kalogerakis. “Port crime contained, boss says: Senate reports on security lapses are greatly exaggerated: CEO.” Montreal Gazette. March 7 2002.
16 posted on
12/02/2005 9:37:20 AM EST by
Calpernia (Breederville.com)