The Redlined Crew made their first big impression in mid-January when they allegedly attacked a Rock Machine member who had been lured to an auto repair shop that has connections to the Hells Angels."Tensions are extremely high ... Violence is imminent," a veteran police officer with extensive knowledge of the organized crime scene wrote last month in newly released court documents obtained yesterday by the Winnipeg Free Press.
Police explain in detail why they believe the relative calm of the past few months is about to be broken -- including evidence of gang members stockpiling weapons in preparation to take out their rival "by any means necessary." The document was used to obtain a search warrant for a home in the city's East Kildonan neighbourhood, where a loaded handgun was found hidden in a backyard last month.Police say a pair of newly arrived gangs are at the centre of the brewing battle as they try to fill the "vacuum" created by a major undercover sting operation dubbed "Project DIVIDE" that ended last December. Police used a career criminal turned secret agent to infiltrate the Hells Angels, resulting in the arrests of 34 high-ranking members and associates.
Police say every member of the Zig Zag Crew -- the Hells Angels so-called "puppet club" -- was put behind bars while only a handful of Hells Angels remain free. With the demand for drugs as high as ever, the criminal underworld was thrown into turmoil."The Rock Machine has been attempting to establish a foothold in the province of Manitoba due to the arrests in DIVIDE. Members of the Rock Machine have been capitalizing on the fact the Hells Angels members and supporters are low in number and have been 'flying' their colours throughout the city of Winnipeg, enraging members of the Manitoba Hells Angels," police wrote in their affidavit.
The Rock Machine have a long history with the Hells Angels in Quebec, especially during the 1990s, when dozens of gang members were killed. But they are new to Winnipeg.The Hells Angels responded quickly despite their diminished state, according to police. Two long-time members of the gang assembled a new group in January to stand up to Rock Machine members trying to take over Winnipeg's drug scene. The "Redlined Support Crew" is comprised entirely of imposing young men who are free in the community and have previously shown their allegiance to the Hells Angels --at least informally.
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