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Terrorists work with gangs: RCMP Top Mountie says force stretched thin Can only investigate a third of threats May 9, 2006. 01:00 AM BRUCE CAMPION-SMITH OTTAWA BUREAU OTTAWAThe Mounties are able to investigate just one-third of the organized crime threats in Canada at the very time that more and more terror groups are using criminal schemes to fund their activities, RCMP commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli says. Zaccardelli told the Senate Committee on National Security and Defence yesterday that organized crime is an "equal threat" to terrorism in Canada. He cited the presence of motorcycle gangs, Asian gangs as well as street gangs a big worry in Toronto which he said have become a "major feeder" system into the other crime groups. "Our concern, of course, is our ability to tackle them and what are the resources that we have," Zaccardelli said. At the same time, Zaccardelli said there's growing evidence that unnamed terror groups are using organized crime as a front to fund their activities. "There is more and more indication that some terrorist groups clearly are getting some of their finances by either directly or indirectly supporting some criminal activity," he said. "That is a trend that we're watching ... and has the potential to cause us some serious problems." He drove home the message that Canada cannot be complacent. "There is a real threat to this country.... We are a target. There are people outside and inside of this country that we believe can cause us potential harm," said Zaccardelli, who did not speak to reporters after his presentation. His comments immediately raised concerns among committee members who have previously warned about the unchecked growth of organized crime, especially in airports, and at ports and border crossings. "We have an incredible distribution network that would put UPS to shame in terms of how drugs are distributed across the country," said Senator Colin Kenny, chair of the committee. "Where you have organized criminals with the capacity to move anything through a port, that same method can be used by terrorists.... Smugglers aren't too picky about what they move," he said. Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day admitted that the ties between terrorists and organized crime have been a "longstanding concern" for intelligence forces around the globe. Zaccardelli said the RCMP, which has 17,000 officers, lacks the resources to do more. And while the Conservatives promised $161 million in last week's budget to hire 1,000 more officers, at least $25 million of that will go to the justice department to hire more lawyers, he added. Zaccardelli also revealed that the RCMP is poised to sign a memo of understanding next week with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to set new protocols for co-operation between the two agencies that have often been accused of waging bitter turf wars. "This will set the new tone and approach to what we believe is a truly seamless partnership in the fight against terrorism," he said, citing the new co-operation as one of the biggest changes over the past year. The RCMP drew flak over Christmas for its bombshell announcement in the middle of the federal election campaign that it had begun a criminal investigation into the possibility of a leak from the Liberal government before a November announcement on taxation of income trusts. The move was ammunition to the opposition parties and seen by some as a turning point for the Liberals. But yesterday Zaccardelli denied there has been any meddling in the operations of the national police force. 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