Original subtitles

The following programme contains strong language, strong violence,

Downloaded from YTS.MX

and adult themes from the start.

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX

Ten songs in a row and a better mix of music

on the official radio station of summer.

C'etait Soul II Soul, Keep on Moving, en souvenir de CKMF.

C'etait Soul II Soul, Keep on Moving, en souvenir de CKMF.

It is 24 degrees in Montreal.

I'm John Moore and this is a 980 Hits information update.

Twist and Shout from the Beatles, 97.7 FM in Montreal, Good Morning!

Twist and Shout from the Beatles, 97.7 FM in Montreal, Good Morning!

What a morning!

Sidney Leithman died early this morning

in his luxury imported convertible on his way to a health club

in his luxury imported convertible on his way to a health club

in this middle-class Montreal suburb.

Police believe an accomplice in another car blocked Leithman's path

while the assassin, a professional,

while the assassin, a professional,

carefully fired six bullets into the sitting target.

Sidney Leithman was the most successful criminal lawyer

Sidney Leithman was the most successful criminal lawyer

in the city.

He was really at the top of his game.

He loved what he did. He loved to perform in court.

He loved what he did. He loved to perform in court.

I'd rather be pleading, than waiting for a verdict.

Defence lawyers tended to stick to one mob.

He represented the Mafia,

He represented the Mafia,

the Columbians. And he had the West End Gang.

All of these organised crime groups battled to control

All of these organised crime groups battled to control

the cocaine industry in Montreal.

By then, we should have, hopefully,

some idea of the nature of the proof, if any.

some idea of the nature of the proof, if any.

The killing of Sidney Leithman was not just the death

of Sidney Leithman, it gave life to a whole new story.

When the police start going through Sidney's clothing,

in one of his pockets they find a hand-written phone number.

in one of his pockets they find a hand-written phone number.

That phone number was the key that opened the door to the power

of the drug trade and the massive corruption that it had created.

of the drug trade and the massive corruption that it had created.

Montreal is a very sexy, appealing, seductive city.

It became perhaps the most criminal city in North America.

It became perhaps the most criminal city in North America.

A lot of us became acquainted with the criminal element,

the criminal character of Montreal at a very early age.

the criminal character of Montreal at a very early age.

You're a kid and you're going to the candy store

and up there is Allo Police, a weekly crime tabloid.

and up there is Allo Police, a weekly crime tabloid.

What other city has a weekly crime tabloid?

Well, in fact, Montreal had two weekly crime tabloids!

Well, in fact, Montreal had two weekly crime tabloids!

And in Montreal, criminals can be heroes.

And in Montreal, criminals can be heroes.

When I was a kid, my father was a city columnist for

The Montreal Star and he covered the waterfront.

The Montreal Star and he covered the waterfront.

I remember one time he had a desk at home and there were all these

mugshots of the West End Gang.

So I was fascinated by these mugshots.

The West End Gang was legendary.

Dunie Ryan was a very, very, very sharp criminal operator.

Dunie Ryan was a very, very, very sharp criminal operator.

Very intelligent guy. He's at the top.

Allan Ross was Dunie Ryan's right hand man.

He was considered a nasty piece of work.

He was considered a nasty piece of work.

Gerry Matticks was like a toll booth through the Port.

He could get your big shipment of cocaine through

He could get your big shipment of cocaine through

but that came with a price.

The West End Gang is great because it's actually not a gang,

The West End Gang is great because it's actually not a gang,

it's a network of people. It's very flexible.

You also don't give the police a structure to look at.

...26 tonnes found at the port of Montreal.

On board 200 million dollars of pure cocaine.

On board 200 million dollars of pure cocaine.

The West End Gang was an extraordinary surprise to us.

You've got small time hoods that rose up and had the initiative

You've got small time hoods that rose up and had the initiative

to go down and meet personally with Colombian Cartel guys

- that's ambition, that's gutsy too.

- that's ambition, that's gutsy too.

Those are dangerous people.

They became an organisation with global power,

an organisation that imports tons and tons of cocaine

an organisation that imports tons and tons of cocaine

into the United States and into Canada.

Montreal had pretty solid divides with its various gangs.

Montreal had pretty solid divides with its various gangs.

On the East end, you would have the French Canadian Gangs.

In the North End you had the Italian Mafia.

And in the West, you had the West End Gang -

the Irish neighbourhood gangsters.

the Irish neighbourhood gangsters.

When I was a kid, the West End neighbourhood was a perfect

breeding ground for that gang to rise up there.

breeding ground for that gang to rise up there.

Everybody knew someone, a family member, a close friend,

who was in some way absolutely connected to the West End Gang.

who was in some way absolutely connected to the West End Gang.

When my dad was in his early 30s he went into the police department,

but then he saw a side that he didn't like,

but then he saw a side that he didn't like,

that he realised they weren't necessarily the good guys.

And the gangs were the bad guys.

So he was disillusioned and he eventually left.

Later on as a kid, I heard him being referred to as "the enforcer"

and I asked my mother about it and said "Mom, what does that mean?"

and she just pretended she didn't hear me

and she just pretended she didn't hear me

and never did answer the question.

The members of the West End Gang, they grew up poor. All of them.

And it was a hardscrabble life.

And it was a hardscrabble life.

They were tough, Irish, working-class kids

who grew up with similar backgrounds

who grew up with similar backgrounds

and that made them very tough criminals.

How old were you when you robbed your first bank?

Fourteen.

Fourteen? Yeah.

Fourteen? Yeah.

Pulling out the gun, jumping up on the counter

doing like they do in the movies, you know,

and wanting the money and they could see it.

and wanting the money and they could see it.

Welcome to Montreal!

It's just another normal day in the bank robbery capital

It's just another normal day in the bank robbery capital

of North America.

The West End Gang had the best safe crackers,

had the best armed robbery guys.

had the best armed robbery guys.

This is one of about 800 bank holdups in the city every year.

Montreal has more of these little scenes than any other city

on this continent,

on this continent,

more than Chicago, more than Los Angeles,

more even than New York.

They got all the bases covered.

They got locksmiths, they got communications guys

They got locksmiths, they got communications guys

and electricians and truck drivers, inside guys to do a job.

and electricians and truck drivers, inside guys to do a job.

Bank robberies in the sixties and seventies,

it was like going to bingo. It was super popular.

it was like going to bingo. It was super popular.

It was an easy, quick way to get some money.

One of my uncles, "Uncle Richard" was a huge bank robber at the time

One of my uncles, "Uncle Richard" was a huge bank robber at the time

and was considered a handsome,

smiling guy because he was always very polite.

He used to say there is no point in scaring them.

He used to say there is no point in scaring them.

He would be very polite about it.

Wells Fargo guards with revolvers drawn stood guard outside

the Sun life building.

According to the Police,

According to the Police,

at a quarter to 12 Wells Fargo men entered the building...

We used to rob a minimum of three banks a week, some twice.

We used to rob a minimum of three banks a week, some twice.

That's how open they were.

Everybody was robbing banks, it was in and out,

Everybody was robbing banks, it was in and out,

it was quick, it was easy.

Like, one manager knew it was me again!

Back in those days, things were really, really happening

Back in those days, things were really, really happening

in Montreal. You say to yourself: "Imagine this happening today?"

It was a crazy, crazy time. Everybody was a bank robber.

It was a crazy, crazy time. Everybody was a bank robber.

Dunie Ryan was a kind of punk.

By the time he was 19,

By the time he was 19,

he had already been in juvenile detention homes a couple of times.

He was well immersed in that life. He was a thief.

He was well immersed in that life. He was a thief.

He was robbing jewellery stores.

If you opened at nine, they were there with a gun to your head

If you opened at nine, they were there with a gun to your head

to help you open up the store, you know, and take what you had.

to help you open up the store, you know, and take what you had.

In his 20's he's involved in armed robberies.

He goes on a trip to the U.S. with some guys

He goes on a trip to the U.S. with some guys

and they are going to do a string of bank robberies

and they get jacked.

They get caught in Lynn, Massachusetts, near Boston.

They get caught in Lynn, Massachusetts, near Boston.

He was in a penitentiary for five years in the U.S.

Now 30 years old, he comes back to Montreal

Now 30 years old, he comes back to Montreal

and that's when he forms what would be known as the West End Gang.

In 1961, I was 22 years old

and I decided to join the police force.

and I decided to join the police force.

You made yourself a reputation, you know,

and I was glad of my reputation.

and I was glad of my reputation.

You know, don't fuck around with Savard.

Andre Savard -

Andre Savard -

top of the cop list in Montreal.

Would do anything to make an arrest within the boundaries of the law.

Would do anything to make an arrest within the boundaries of the law.

He took crap from no one.

My first job, standing guard at the Botanical Garden.

My first job, standing guard at the Botanical Garden.

You know, I'm armed with a gun and I'm a police officer

and don't step on the flowers, you know.

and don't step on the flowers, you know.

If you do, well, who knows what's going to happen.

So I needed some action, some real police work.

The hold up squad was busier than at any other time,

The hold up squad was busier than at any other time,

because the capital of robbery was Montreal.

That started the whole thing with me working at the Holdup Squad.

The West End Gang were considered good 'bad guys' in the sense that

The West End Gang were considered good 'bad guys' in the sense that

initially they were not dealing drugs, they had not killed anybody.

There was a guy John Slawvey, that was part of the Gang.

They called him Big John, Big John Slawvey,

because he weighed something like 240 pounds

and he also was really mean.

and he also was really mean.

He hated cops with a vengeance.

Dunie was close to Slawvey and he was a big guy.

Dunie was close to Slawvey and he was a big guy.

Dunie liked him a lot.

There was a cop that was doing traffic, he was in front of Simpsons

There was a cop that was doing traffic, he was in front of Simpsons

and he was writing a ticket

and John Slawvey with two other guys came out of the Simpsons Building

and John Slawvey with two other guys came out of the Simpsons Building

because they just committed an armed robbery.

They could have left,

They could have left,

the cop was writing a ticket - he wouldn't see this,

they were in the back of him. So he yelled at the cop, Slawvey,

so the cop turned around...

so the cop turned around...

..almost cut him in half, you know, with a machine gun.

..almost cut him in half, you know, with a machine gun.

It didn't take long for police to find out from their informants

that John Slawvey was the killer,

that John Slawvey was the killer,

but they didn't have enough evidence to arrest him.

Later on we heard about him, that he was glad at what he did,

Later on we heard about him, that he was glad at what he did,

it was like a trophy for him.

He used to go shoot at some target and write" police" on top,

you know, just shoot him.

you know, just shoot him.

For a long time, the West End Gang was just a bunch of guys

For a long time, the West End Gang was just a bunch of guys

from the Irish neighbourhood.

It wasn't until they started killing people that they became a threat.

It wasn't until they started killing people that they became a threat.

They are frightening people.

They would kill you as soon as they looked at you.

They would kill you as soon as they looked at you.

They just don't care.

The eyes of the world were all on Montreal in 1976

The eyes of the world were all on Montreal in 1976

because of the arrival of the Olympics.

Law and order suddenly became critical in presenting

Law and order suddenly became critical in presenting

a clean image to the world.

Unfortunately the reality basically whacked them in the face.

Unfortunately the reality basically whacked them in the face.

It was a crime that stunned the Montreal police

It was a crime that stunned the Montreal police

because of its audacity.

The Brinks truck arrived at the bank to pick up currency

in all denominations.

Gunmen in a white van backed up behind the truck,

Gunmen in a white van backed up behind the truck,

blocking the alley.

And when the door was flung open, the remaining guard faced this:

a 50 calibre anti-aircraft gun.

a 50 calibre anti-aircraft gun.

The driver of the second vehicle got out and went to the door

of the Brinks truck. 'Open the truck.'

Those were the only words said during the whole affair

Those were the only words said during the whole affair

and they were said in English.

The gunmen escaped with the largest holdup haul in Quebec history:

$2.8 million dollars.

$2.8 million dollars.

SAVARD: It was definitely the West End Gang.

Because nobody else could be involved in such a robbery.

Because nobody else could be involved in such a robbery.

We knew that the Irish organised crime in Boston and Montreal

are connected.

Who is gonna be able to get a 50-calibre machine gun?

Who is gonna be able to get a 50-calibre machine gun?

But of course it comes from the States, you know,

and who's got those contacts?

and who's got those contacts?

Police say they know who is responsible, they just don't have

enough evidence to make the charges stick.

I went to see my boss, the inspector, at the time.

I asked him, "Why don't you let me do something."

He told me "Yes you can do it, Andre, but be careful.

He told me "Yes you can do it, Andre, but be careful.

Don't overdo it." I had a tendency of overdoing it.

"Don't be a Dirty Harry," that's what he was telling me.

"Don't be a Dirty Harry," that's what he was telling me.

In order to shake the organised crime,

In order to shake the organised crime,

the best way we could, legally, was to do some things that weren't done.

the best way we could, legally, was to do some things that weren't done.

You were stepping out of the rule book a little bit, you know.

Police! Open the door.

Police! Open the door.

O'CONNOR: They went about rousting people they thought might be members

of the West End Gang.

Hands up police. Come on. Open up.

Hands up police. Come on. Open up.

Night after night after night, they would go to different places

Night after night after night, they would go to different places

where they knew West End Gang members would hang out

and they would find guns, they would find money

but nothing directly connected to the Brinks robbery.

We hit all these places.

Nittolo's, Peg's - every motel we hit them, you know.

We're bothering the West End Gang.

We're bothering the West End Gang.

Dunie Ryan did not take kindly to the fact that they were being rousted

night after night by Andre Savard.

night after night by Andre Savard.

I'm patrolling near Motel Peg with one of my men,

I'm patrolling near Motel Peg with one of my men,

and that's what we did before we're going to hit some place.

I was driving the car and passing Motel Peg's, we heard a loud bang.

I was driving the car and passing Motel Peg's, we heard a loud bang.

I didn't know what it was, so I swung and hit the fence.

A couple of rifle bullets went through the back window

of their unmarked car.

of their unmarked car.

Within a week or so Savard found out that Dunie's friend John Slawvey,

who was the cop killer, was going around boasting to the other guys

who was the cop killer, was going around boasting to the other guys

how he had shot at Savard

because of the problems he was causing the West End Gang.

I knew who the guy was so we went to arrest him -

there was no way we were going to take any chances.

And that's when they laid a trap to arrest Slawvey

at his apartment building.

I got two cops with me, young cops.

They were never involved in any shootings.

So they gonna be nervous, you know, especially a guy like that.

So they gonna be nervous, you know, especially a guy like that.

He killed a cop. He doesn't mind killing cops.

So we waited in the garage till he got in, you know,

So we waited in the garage till he got in, you know,

just like an old movie.

You hear the car going in.

It takes a long time, you don't hear anything - what's going on,

you know?

you know?

And then we start hearing steps.

The guy is walking, I can hear him.

The guy is walking, I can hear him.

So when he comes I yell at him "Police" and then he stops

and looks at me and he said: "I'm not armed, I'm not armed",

and looks at me and he said: "I'm not armed, I'm not armed",

so I move forward, you know.

Then all I can remember and I seen something shiny in his coat,

Then all I can remember and I seen something shiny in his coat,

right here and then he made a move.

Well I had to make a decision and it was a quick decision.

Well I had to make a decision and it was a quick decision.

I don't know if it's a gun, you know. I shot him.

And then I heard...

And then I heard...

My two partners - they shot him, so he fell down.

They put something like 27 bullets into John Slawvey.

His girlfriend later said he was reaching for his cigarettes.

That he didn't have a gun with him.

The investigation found that there was a gun lying beside Slawvey's body

The investigation found that there was a gun lying beside Slawvey's body

but another cop told me "Of course there would be a gun there.

It probably was a throw away."

But I know it was, because I was there.

But I know it was, because I was there.

There can be many different suspicions, you know,

There can be many different suspicions, you know,

maybe you shouldn't have shot him,

maybe a lot of things I shouldn't have done

but I didn't take a chance.

I'm alive and he's dead. I did what I had to do.

I'm alive and he's dead. I did what I had to do.

I would have been stupid to do anything otherwise because

I would have been killed if not there somewhere else,

maybe another cop would have been killed.

maybe another cop would have been killed.

I've got no regrets.

Dunie and Slawvey were great pals and people in the West End Gang were

really upset by the way he died,

really upset by the way he died,

they felt he was murdered by Savard. That was a bad scene.

Then there was a $50,000 contract put out on Savard's life.

Dunie Ryan certainly wanted our heads.

And Savard himself had to be protected.

I had a .44 Magnum which Dirty Harry had.

I had a .44 Magnum which Dirty Harry had.

I always put my .44 Magnum under the bed.

We are not easy targets, you know.

We are not easy targets, you know.

So we are not going to let ourselves get killed

without defending ourselves.

Montreal had Allo Police - a weekly crime tabloid.

I was fascinated by it.

The Head of the West End Gang.

The Head of the West End Gang.

My father got me a job at The Montreal Gazette as a copy boy.

As a journalist, I veered into crime

As a journalist, I veered into crime

and became an investigative crime reporter.

I did a magazine story about Dunie Ryan.

I did a magazine story about Dunie Ryan.

And this was a really interesting figure because what he was doing

was fairly sophisticated.

That story was important to my career and it led to

other stories unfolding.

I have never seen these photos before.

It took a long time to find small pieces of information about Dunie.

It took a long time to find small pieces of information about Dunie.

Because he was a very evasive criminal.

That's what he needed to be.

That was part of what made him great at what he did.

O'CONNOR: In the 1980's,

the West End Gang was getting involved in more serious crimes

the West End Gang was getting involved in more serious crimes

that just robbing a bank here and there.

Dunie Ryan realised the big money to be made was in drugs.

Dunie Ryan realised the big money to be made was in drugs.

I think the secret of the West End Gang is that an opportunity

came and they saw it.

They are the right people at the right time in the right place

and they realise this, and that was the key.

In the 80's it was like everybody was suddenly selling

In the 80's it was like everybody was suddenly selling

and doing cocaine.

There was, like, an explosion of it.

Everybody loved coke. The dark side of cocaine hadn't kicked in yet.

Everybody loved coke. The dark side of cocaine hadn't kicked in yet.

This very, very desired product was coming in containers

and everyone had to get it through that Port and they had to ask

permission from the West End Gang.

permission from the West End Gang.

REPORTER: 26 tonnes found at the port of Montreal.

Quebec Police investigators determined it belonged to a group

Quebec Police investigators determined it belonged to a group

of suspected drug traffickers known as the Matticks clan.

Well, the Matticks family has been interesting every police department

ever since we're police officers.

ever since we're police officers.

The Port of Montreal was controlled by the Irish Mob

and Gerald Matticks was in charge of hiring people.

and Gerald Matticks was in charge of hiring people.

He was the lynchpin.

Everyone knew Gerry Matticks and Dunie Ryan worked hand in hand together.

Everyone knew Gerry Matticks and Dunie Ryan worked hand in hand together.

I've covered Hells Angels leaders in trials, I've covered Mafia leaders.

I've covered Hells Angels leaders in trials, I've covered Mafia leaders.

Gerry Matticks was different, Gerry Matticks had personality

that I never saw in any of the other criminals that I have covered.

that I never saw in any of the other criminals that I have covered.

He had a sense of humour. He had charisma.

There was something about him that made you smile even though

There was something about him that made you smile even though

you knew that he could stick a shiv in your back as easily as not.

you knew that he could stick a shiv in your back as easily as not.

What Matticks would later say is, on any given day I could just touch

the side of my nose and a container that was up on a crane could go on

the side of my nose and a container that was up on a crane could go on

the right truck that would get out of the Port without being inspected.

The port of Montreal was the first choice for many drug traffickers

because once it lands in Montreal, it's a real launching point

to where you wanted to distribute your cocaine.

to where you wanted to distribute your cocaine.

The open door to the importation of narcotics in Canada

and in the United States.

and in the United States.

It passes through Montreal to go to New York.

Cocaine changed what were formally small gangs.

Cocaine changed what were formally small gangs.

And that's why the West End Gang suddenly came to light

as a major player in the Montreal underworld.

as a major player in the Montreal underworld.

The battle amongst all of these organised crime groups to control

the cocaine industry exploded into gangland slayings

the cocaine industry exploded into gangland slayings

and corruption seemed to creep into every aspect of the city.

and corruption seemed to creep into every aspect of the city.

Montreal...

These days a city of many coffins.

By Victoria Day, a hundred murders in Quebec.

By Victoria Day, a hundred murders in Quebec.

Things got so bad that the government was forced to set up

a public inquiry into organised crime

and suddenly the ugliness just came to the surface.

and suddenly the ugliness just came to the surface.

It's a frightening picture of underworld operations

and the operators.

A nightly TV show in Quebec featuring a police inquiry

and starring a host of lawyers and gangsters.

Underworld figures whose faces were barely known are becoming as

Underworld figures whose faces were barely known are becoming as

familiar as the Montreal Canadiens.

It was a big hit, you got a Crime Commission that's filming

It was a big hit, you got a Crime Commission that's filming

testimonies of gangsters. Yeah, it's a hell of a reality show.

They hauled Dunie Ryan and Gerry Matticks

They hauled Dunie Ryan and Gerry Matticks

in front of the Commission

but they see them as truck hijackers, bank robbers

and money launderers.

and money launderers.

They miss the fact that they have now become the biggest drug dealers,

far out shining the Mafia and the French Canadian gangs.

far out shining the Mafia and the French Canadian gangs.

When Dunie was called up to testify,

he said, "I bury my money in the ground," and in fact he did.

he said, "I bury my money in the ground," and in fact he did.

So obviously they don't have enough evidence to charge him with anything.

So they slip away into their own dark area without anybody

So they slip away into their own dark area without anybody

really understanding that the status of these gangs is now altered

really understanding that the status of these gangs is now altered

to a point where real power is with The West End Gang.

The Italians and the biker gangs had been the main distributors of cocaine.

These upstart Irish guys started muscling in on their territory.

These upstart Irish guys started muscling in on their territory.

There were threats made for them to stay out of the business.

There were threats made for them to stay out of the business.

The Irish wouldn't take that lying down.

They just continued to expand the business.

This flood of cocaine poured into the Ports...

This flood of cocaine poured into the Ports...

..a huge challenge for the RCMP because we are dealing with

international drug smuggling of a serious drug

international drug smuggling of a serious drug

that is bringing unbelievable amounts of money in

and exiting out of the country.

Half a ton of cocaine was introduced as evidence at the trial.

500 kilos that came all the way from South America destined for

500 kilos that came all the way from South America destined for

the New York market.

The cocaine never got there - the RCMP got their hands on it first.

The cocaine never got there - the RCMP got their hands on it first.

And the man who was at the head of this investigation

was Claude Savoie.

We all have different theories on things but until you see something.

We all have different theories on things but until you see something.

This proves that large quantities do come in -

500 kilos, again, is the largest seizure ever made in Canada.

500 kilos, again, is the largest seizure ever made in Canada.

He was considered a good cop, a clean cop

and he was respected by the people who worked for him.

and he was respected by the people who worked for him.

Everybody liked him, good guy, backed you up, all the rest of it.

I met Savoie, we started a joint project with

I met Savoie, we started a joint project with

the Montreal Police Drug Squad and the RCMP.

And I found Savoie to be a good guy, a comfortable guy to be with.

And I found Savoie to be a good guy, a comfortable guy to be with.

They've got this small little gang that suddenly pops out

They've got this small little gang that suddenly pops out

and becomes a major player in cocaine and now Claude Savoie

has to be looking at Dunie Ryan.

has to be looking at Dunie Ryan.

The power and reach of the West End Gang was growing quite significantly

The power and reach of the West End Gang was growing quite significantly

so they made sure they had the kind of lawyer

with the brazen talent

and connections within the justice system

and connections within the justice system

they needed to help protect their criminal empire.

And that man was Sidney Leithman

I can't say that,

it's not because a warrant is issued that the man is guilty.

it's not because a warrant is issued that the man is guilty.

The first time I saw Sidney Leithman,

I was in a courtroom and he walked in and suddenly the room was

I was in a courtroom and he walked in and suddenly the room was

full of Sidney Leithman.

I mean this guy was sort of a pastiche of some kind of

Brooklyn mob Lawyer with the aviator glasses.

Brooklyn mob Lawyer with the aviator glasses.

Sidney Leithman was my lawyer.

I got found not guilty on a few cases. Great lawyer.

He was a fixer.

He had a lot of judges, having judges makes cases a lot

He had a lot of judges, having judges makes cases a lot

easier for you.

You're saying he had judges in his pocket?

Yup. Oh for sure, for sure, for sure.

Yup. Oh for sure, for sure, for sure.

We knew at some point that Leithman was very friendly with one judge.

We knew at some point that Leithman was very friendly with one judge.

He was renting apartments for him every once in a while,

he even had a girl, ya know, a prostitute.

And eventually, he became the lawyer to a major Montreal crime boss,

Frank Cotroni.

Frank Cotroni.

At the time, the Cotronis were the most powerful Mafia family

in Montreal.

Whatever he has done in the past, he has paid for that

and it shouldn't affect him today.

If you were caught and you were a member of the underworld of Montreal,

they cry would go out "Get me Leithman".

He represented the Italian mafia guys, the Hell's Angels guys

He represented the Italian mafia guys, the Hell's Angels guys

and the West End Gang.

I don't know what the right answer is?

Sidney became the corporate lawyer for the West End Gang.

Sidney became the corporate lawyer for the West End Gang.

He was always there for them, any time, 24 hours a day,

seven days a week. That was Sidney Leithman.

seven days a week. That was Sidney Leithman.

Dunie Ryan appreciated him so much that he gave him an Irish Claddagh ring.

Dunie Ryan appreciated him so much that he gave him an Irish Claddagh ring.

Dunie Ryan really wanted to create a bond among the people

Dunie Ryan really wanted to create a bond among the people

who worked underneath him and he made each of them a Claddagh ring.

It's a symbol, it's a heart and it's two hands pulling on either side

It's a symbol, it's a heart and it's two hands pulling on either side

of the heart.

Leithman said,

"I'm probably the only Jew in the city that is wearing one of these rings."

"I'm probably the only Jew in the city that is wearing one of these rings."

He was very proud of it and he used to show it to everybody in court.

He was like a made-man with that ring.

He was like a made-man with that ring.

For him to give that ring to Sidney Leithman,

to me it's a sign that a) I trust you,

to me it's a sign that a) I trust you,

b) it's possible that Mr Leithman was facilitating his crimes.

He got involved in levels of drug dealing that he should have never

He got involved in levels of drug dealing that he should have never

ever been a part of.

And once you do that, you are caught by this group now.

And once you do that, you are caught by this group now.

You are no longer their lawyer, you're their slave.

You are no longer their lawyer, you're their slave.

The Brinks robbery was something that ate at Andre Savard for years.

The Brinks robbery was something that ate at Andre Savard for years.

Andre would not let go of it.

I'm mad at them like hell,

I'm mad at them like hell,

so I am going to put them in jail, arrest them. That's my vengeance.

After the Brinks hold-up police combed the city for clues.

After the Brinks hold-up police combed the city for clues.

Police killed suspect John Slawvey in a shootout.

Four years later police raided this house on Greene Avenue.

Four years later police raided this house on Greene Avenue.

Under these floorboards they found almost $290,000,

believed part of the Brinks loot.

believed part of the Brinks loot.

Slawvey lived at the Greene avenue house.

That was one crime that really got under his skin.

That was one crime that really got under his skin.

Eight years later,

he finally caught most of the perpetrators of the Brink robbery.

The indictment charges five persons with conspiracy

The indictment charges five persons with conspiracy

and armed robbery about $3 million.

Only the small fry who were involved in it get tried and sentenced.

Only the small fry who were involved in it get tried and sentenced.

The leaders of the Brinks robbery, the guys who put it together,

get off scot free.

Not guilty? Tabarnac, not guilty?

That was worse than the O.J. Simpson case.

That was worse than the O.J. Simpson case.

This was unbelievable.

What the hell do you want, you know?

So...

So in 1984, after the Brink's investigation,

I decided that it was time for me to go to the top job

I decided that it was time for me to go to the top job

where I think being a homicide cop was at the top.

Many years ago, my mother had to send me to an orphanage.

I always had a tendency to stand up for the little guy.

I had to defend them, you know, somehow.

Being a cop, the best way to do this would be to stop people from

killing each other.

And it became like an obsession.

Dunie Tyan would operate and hold court in various motels

in the West end of Montreal.

in the West end of Montreal.

He spends a lot of time hanging out at Nitillo's on Upper Lachine Road.

When I was 15 years old, I got my first real job

as a busboy at Nittolo's.

And it was a very respected place

but there was also a criminal element to it.

but there was also a criminal element to it.

That's where members of the West End Gang,

That's where members of the West End Gang,

most of them Irish guys, would come and pay homage to Dunie Ryan.

He was very generous with his cohorts.

He was very generous with his cohorts.

And if they got out of jail Dunie right away would give the guy money

to buy new clothes, a couple of grams of cocaine.

to buy new clothes, a couple of grams of cocaine.

And he would keep their loyalty that way.

What made him, Dunie, a good crime boss?

What made him, Dunie, a good crime boss?

He had a good gang.

He just had good people around him that supported him.

Dunie is running this powerful business.

He has a very nice home,

and a 30-foot power yacht where he entertained his cronies.

and a 30-foot power yacht where he entertained his cronies.

The money had become almost a joke to the guys.

It was that much money, that was the legend.

It was that much money, that was the legend.

I think there was always the idea that

"Hey you could be living this dream, you could be living this life."

"Hey you could be living this dream, you could be living this life."

They sold that dream very well and the younger people who were

at the bottom looked up to them and thought they were so cool

and be like them one day and they bought the lie.

and be like them one day and they bought the lie.

They lived the high life in every way.

And meanwhile none of that trickled down back to the people

And meanwhile none of that trickled down back to the people

who were working for them.

Wow, it hasn't changed. My bedroom was right up there.

Wow, it hasn't changed. My bedroom was right up there.

They didn't share any of that wealth.

They got to live this lifestyle that the people in The Point

could only dream of.

could only dream of.

Dunie Ryan might have been an honest thief,

Dunie Ryan might have been an honest thief,

as a lot of people called him,

however if you crossed Dunie, there could be hell to pay.

Patrick McGurnaghan was a mid-level member of the West End Gang.

He owed Dunie about 200,000 bucks and every time Dunie tried to collect,

He owed Dunie about 200,000 bucks and every time Dunie tried to collect,

McGurnaghan would blow him off.

Dunie hired Apache Trudeau who is a Hells Angels guy

Dunie hired Apache Trudeau who is a Hells Angels guy

also known as the Mad Bomber.

He was basically a psychopath.

But he was very handy to be hired if you wanted somebody killed.

But he was very handy to be hired if you wanted somebody killed.

Apache Trudeau planted a bomb underneath McGurnaghan's car

Apache Trudeau planted a bomb underneath McGurnaghan's car

with a radio device that would detonate the bomb.

McGurnaghan gets in his car and starts driving...

McGurnaghan gets in his car and starts driving...

..turns the corner near a park and a school.

The white 1977 Mercedes Benz was travelling south about

quarter to one this afternoon.

Suddenly a loud explosion, the car blew apart and came to stop

Suddenly a loud explosion, the car blew apart and came to stop

off the side of the road 150 feet away.

The man just fell out and his arms and legs were blown off.

The man just fell out and his arms and legs were blown off.

And that was the end of McGurnaghan.

Dunie had made an example of him. And the word was out very quickly -

Dunie had made an example of him. And the word was out very quickly -

you do not fuck with Dunie.

In that period of time, I was a homicide cop

and I was involved with an informer that the West End Gang

and I was involved with an informer that the West End Gang

was trying to kill.

The West End Gang had a lot of power, complete power,

because people in The Point knew there was no line

because people in The Point knew there was no line

they wouldn't cross.

Because we were so close to the tracks we could see them bringing

Because we were so close to the tracks we could see them bringing

a body that they would be able to distribute along the train track

because the train can do a lot of damage to a body

and get rid of the parts.

and get rid of the parts.

When I was a kid, I came to look after the train had gone by

and lying on the dirt not far from the track,

and lying on the dirt not far from the track,

I wasn't sure at first what it was,

and then I realised it was a hand and sort of kicked it

and then I realised it was a hand and sort of kicked it

a bit with my foot and thought "Wow".

I mean the fingertips were still attached,

it was a complete hand that hadn't even been crushed.

it was a complete hand that hadn't even been crushed.

Violence like that, it breeds more violence.

By 1984, Dunie Ryan is looking over his shoulder,

wondering how safe his perch might be,

wondering how safe his perch might be,

because he knows people are jealous of him.

Dunie had worth between 50 and 100 million

and he did express his concerns about his own safety

and he did express his concerns about his own safety

and he was worried about his kids being possibly kidnapped.

The West End Gang was splitting in some ways, you know?

The West End Gang was splitting in some ways, you know?

Everybody wanted to take over. That's the way criminals are,

you know. They want to take over.

In that world, it's a vicious world. It can come from anywhere.

Dunie rides to meet up with some members of his gang

in the bar at Nittolo's.

in the bar at Nittolo's.

That was where he hung out, did business,

he wouldn't think twice about something happening to him there.

he wouldn't think twice about something happening to him there.

As Dunie is sitting there, a fellow by the name of Paul April

approaches his table.

approaches his table.

And he owes Dunie Ryan $200,000

and he's scared.

He invites Dunie to a room at the motel

where he says he's going to pay him, give him the money.

Dunie says "OK, let's go." And off they go to Room 40.

Dunie says "OK, let's go." And off they go to Room 40.

They walk in there and out of the bathroom

They walk in there and out of the bathroom

steps a friend of Paul April's with a shotgun in his hand.

Dunie knows he's doomed unless he gets out of there.

Dunie knows he's doomed unless he gets out of there.

He's gotta fight his way out of there or he's finished.

So he picked up the chair and smashed it into the window

So he picked up the chair and smashed it into the window

to make a break for it.

He went down swinging.

One of Paul April's henchmen blasts Dunie Ryan in the chest,

One of Paul April's henchmen blasts Dunie Ryan in the chest,

blows him away.

'Reputed West End cocaine dealer Peter Dunie Ryan

was shot to death in a motel on Upper Lachine Road.

Who did it is anybody's guess, but it had to be someone Ryan trusted

Who did it is anybody's guess, but it had to be someone Ryan trusted

for a killer or killers to get so close to him

with a 12-gauge shotgun and a .45 calibre pistol.'

with a 12-gauge shotgun and a .45 calibre pistol.'

He died at 42. It's a very young age.

Dunie wanted to "Live Fast, Love Hard and Die Young."

Dunie wanted to "Live Fast, Love Hard and Die Young."

If that was his motto in life, then all three wishes came true,

If that was his motto in life, then all three wishes came true,

unfortunately.

Dunie's funeral was here.

Dunie's funeral was here.

Just not too far away was where he was killed

and where he did a lot of business.

and where he did a lot of business.

Dunie Ryan for me was close to home.

I worked at Nittolo's as a kid.

I shot pool as a teenager at Smitty's, a big hangout of his.

I shot pool as a teenager at Smitty's, a big hangout of his.

There's more of a familiarity, a character

that you're reporting on, when they've covered the same turf as you.

that you're reporting on, when they've covered the same turf as you.

The loveable anti-hero. Maybe he struck that chord in me.

The loveable anti-hero. Maybe he struck that chord in me.

One of the things about the West End Gang that I think is terrible

is how much we want to romanticise them.

I always thought they were pieces of shit.

I always thought they were pieces of shit.

I don't know why people looked up to them. I would look at them

and think, "Fuck you. You're not the hero that you think you are,

or that you want to pretend you are."

or that you want to pretend you are."

They were bullies who were just taking advantage of people

who were vulnerable.

A lot of them are not nice people.

The criminal world is a fucked up world, there is no doubt about it.

The criminal world is a fucked up world, there is no doubt about it.

When Dunie Ryan was killed,

Allan Ross, just by the vacancy,

Allan Ross, just by the vacancy,

the vacuum of power, swung in.

'Allan Ross started out running errands for Dunie Ryan.

'Allan Ross started out running errands for Dunie Ryan.

He spent a lot of nights at this West End motel

watching Ryan collect millions from drug-running.'

You could stop Allan Ross on the street and you could see

You could stop Allan Ross on the street and you could see

the hate in his eyes for police, you could see it

while talking to him. You know, that scar he had on his face

while talking to him. You know, that scar he had on his face

and his beady eyes looking at you.

He was a violent human being and if he wanted something,

He was a violent human being and if he wanted something,

I believe he would have killed you for it.

Allan Ross would destroy you if you're not careful.

He was considered a nasty piece of work.

He was considered a nasty piece of work.

His nickname was The Weasel.

Some say it's because he looked like a ferret.

Some say it's because he looked like a ferret.

He tried to get away with everything, he tried not to be

involved in things and if he was involved he'd be in the back.

involved in things and if he was involved he'd be in the back.

They called him The Weasel for a reason, you know.

Paul April is out in the East End at a bar bragging about it

Paul April is out in the East End at a bar bragging about it

with his buddies, saying, "The King is dead.

Dunie Ryan is dead and now I'm the king."

I mean, it's laughable. Who are you?

I mean, it's laughable. Who are you?

Allan Ross knew who was involved in Dunie Ryan's murder

Allan Ross knew who was involved in Dunie Ryan's murder

and he set about getting them.

Paul April was staying with his gang in the apartment on De Maisonneuve.

Paul April was staying with his gang in the apartment on De Maisonneuve.

They knew that the gang was looking, especially Allan Ross

was looking for him to avenge Dunie Ryan.

It's four in the morning.

Paul April and three of his cronies are holed up in this apartment.

They're doing coke, they are having a good time.

There's a knock on the door

There's a knock on the door

and who's at the door but Apache Trudeau?

He's got a gift for Paul April. It's a video recorder...

He's got a gift for Paul April. It's a video recorder...

..with a tape called 'The History of the Hell's Angels in Montreal.'

Aren't you a little suspicious about this at four in the morning?

Aren't you a little suspicious about this at four in the morning?

That it's Apache Trudeau, for heaven's sake.

You know who this guy is...

... this legendary mass bomber for the Hell's Angels.

... this legendary mass bomber for the Hell's Angels.

Paul April puts the VCR down and Apache Trudeau leaves.

Paul April puts the VCR down and Apache Trudeau leaves.

A little while later he turns on the VCR.

They put the tape inside. It's been wired by Apache Trudeau

They put the tape inside. It's been wired by Apache Trudeau

so that after it's played for a couple of minutes...

The windows come screaming out onto the street.

Half the floor is gone.

Half the floor is gone.

'There was so much damage, firemen had to use an aerial crane

'There was so much damage, firemen had to use an aerial crane

to remove the four bodies.'

'They are now saying that a full-scale gang war

'They are now saying that a full-scale gang war

may now be underway, because two of the four men

in room 917 when the ten-pound dynamite bomb exploded

were believed to be part of the Ryan organisation.'

It's a huge bomb, a lot of C4 packed into it

and it blows the occupants of the apartment to smithereens.

and it blows the occupants of the apartment to smithereens.

Paul April's face is gone, most of his body is gone.

Paul April's face is gone, most of his body is gone.

At the time they didn't really know

what had happened and they thought

what had happened and they thought

that because his chest was blown away

he had been making a bomb that was going to be strapped to his body.

'Yves Apache Trudeau took part in 43 murders

'Yves Apache Trudeau took part in 43 murders

as a Hell's Angels hitman in the '70s and '80s,

sometimes with guns, sometimes with bombs.

sometimes with guns, sometimes with bombs.

A violent man, even by biker standards.'

Police confirmed from Apache Trudeau that he was hired by Allan Ross

Police confirmed from Apache Trudeau that he was hired by Allan Ross

to plant that bomb in Paul April's apartment.

Luckily for Allan Ross, he was never charged for that murder,

because it was really Apache Trudeau's word against Allan Ross's word.

because it was really Apache Trudeau's word against Allan Ross's word.

I got in touch with Allan Ross to find out his take on the story

I got in touch with Allan Ross to find out his take on the story

of what happened and whether he was involved and so on.

He wrote me back. "There was only two things that could happen

He wrote me back. "There was only two things that could happen

when Dunie got killed. I was gonna get killed

or the people responsible for Dunie's death were gonna get killed.

or the people responsible for Dunie's death were gonna get killed.

Paul was in a tavern bragging that he had killed the king

and Paul was looking to see which way the wind was blowing.

And 13 days later, it was blowing him to hell. Ha-ha!!"

So one by one in a very systematic way,

Allan Ross took out everybody involved in Dunie Ryan's murder.

Allan Ross took out everybody involved in Dunie Ryan's murder.

Because as the saying goes,

three people can keep a secret only if two of them are dead.

three people can keep a secret only if two of them are dead.

This was bound to happen because there was war

inside the gang itself.

The organised crime groups,

The organised crime groups,

they destroy themselves.

They don't care about anybody but themselves.

And at the end of it all,

Allan Ross had finally secured his own position

Allan Ross had finally secured his own position

as the new king of the West End Gang,

with his own people, his own structure

and his own way of doing business.

and his own way of doing business.

'Ross went on to make more, much more.

Under his command the West End Gang forged a partnership

Under his command the West End Gang forged a partnership

with the Sicilian Mafia and Colombia's cocaine cartels.'

I became the lead attorney for the organised crime task force

I became the lead attorney for the organised crime task force

in north Florida. At that time every big criminal organisation

on Planet Earth was in drugs coming out of Colombia.

We worked the Colombian cartels hard and the cartel

that I was primarily interested in was better armed

and in greater numbers than the Colombian army.

and in greater numbers than the Colombian army.

So we're watching everything they do

and lo and behold there's this guy from Montreal that shows up,

Allan Ross. It's like, "What the heck is going on with that?"

Allan Ross. It's like, "What the heck is going on with that?"

So we start digging.

'By the mid 1980s, Florida drug agents

began secretly investigating Ross.'

began secretly investigating Ross.'

For a Canadian to go down and make direct contact with the Colombian Cartel guys,

I had never seen that before.

We indicted Allan Ross for being the lead figure

We indicted Allan Ross for being the lead figure

to traffic in illegal drugs in the United States, Canada

and elsewhere. You seal the indictment

and elsewhere. You seal the indictment

so they don't know you are coming for them.

'Narcotics worth hundreds of millions have been seized in Montreal

'Narcotics worth hundreds of millions have been seized in Montreal

during the past 11 months, but no-one has been arrested.

Inside the container, agents found a fortune in narcotics,

but no-one claimed it, perhaps because the dealers knew

but no-one claimed it, perhaps because the dealers knew

or suspected that they were under police surveillance.'

Ross knew how to play the system.

Ross knew how to play the system.

He was able to stay ahead of the justice system in Canada.

It was embarrassing and you had to ask yourself

It was embarrassing and you had to ask yourself

what was wrong with the Canadians that they couldn't get this guy?

He's been around for 20 years doing drugs in Montreal.

Nobody had the answer at the time.

Nobody had the answer at the time.

And nobody believed at the time that it could possibly be

And nobody believed at the time that it could possibly be

who it ended up being.

'Sidney Leithman, lawyer, and specialist in defending

'Sidney Leithman, lawyer, and specialist in defending

against major crime charges.'

'Does any one of you know of a murder that hasn't happened yet?

Somebody who is a victim that, in your opinion,

Somebody who is a victim that, in your opinion,

is going to be killed?'

'I'm not going to answer that.'

'I'm not going to answer that.'

'If you wanted a lawyer killed, how much do you think

you would have to have in the bank to get it done?'

'I wouldn't even think. I wouldn't know.'

'I wouldn't even think. I wouldn't know.'

There's a basic rule for journalists and lawyers

when dealing with underworld guys, you don't get too close.

when dealing with underworld guys, you don't get too close.

Nothing is personal here, you don't go out and drink with them.

You don't get involved in anything they are involved with,

You don't get involved in anything they are involved with,

that sort of thing. You keep your distance. You do it

for your own safety. And, uh, Leithman didn't understand that.

for your own safety. And, uh, Leithman didn't understand that.

We look for the crooked lawyers, we look for the crooked cops

and Leithman was in our sights.

and Leithman was in our sights.

He was an important appendage to Ross's organisation.

He's the guy that told witnesses to keep their mouth shut,

He's the guy that told witnesses to keep their mouth shut,

he's the one that made the deals with witnesses, that if you keep your mouth shut

you'll get paid, the guy that advised Ross, when he had a problem, who was talking.

you'll get paid, the guy that advised Ross, when he had a problem, who was talking.

He is no longer a defence lawyer, he is a felon

He is no longer a defence lawyer, he is a felon

conspiring to obstruct justice.

'He made headlines taking on Colombian cartel characters

as clients and usually got them off.'

as clients and usually got them off.'

He was very well liked by the cartels down in Colombia.

He liked the fact that they would fly him down,

provide him with money, drugs

and women, whatever he wanted.

I think that Leithman got sucked into a couple of files

with the Colombians for the money, then he got too deep.

There were rumours that he was doing coke himself

There were rumours that he was doing coke himself

and if you have an addiction to any kind of drugs, you become less trusted.

'Police intercepted a cargo plane from Medellin, Colombia.

It contained half a ton of cocaine.'

By 1989, the Colombians were starting to lose faith on Leithman.

He was losing cases.

They were blaming Leithman for the fact

they had lost millions of dollars in the cocaine being seized.

they had lost millions of dollars in the cocaine being seized.

His dealings with those types of people,

I mean, if you're doing court cases, you'd better win them.

I mean, if you're doing court cases, you'd better win them.

And he wasn't winning them.

There was this sense with him of making promises he can't keep

There was this sense with him of making promises he can't keep

and just a man who you could no longer trust.

And in that world, if you can no longer trust somebody,

And in that world, if you can no longer trust somebody,

that's the end.

'Sidney Leithman was just five blocks from his house

'Sidney Leithman was just five blocks from his house

when he was shot in the head this morning. Family members were on the scene quickly,

shocked, standing barefoot in the street.

shocked, standing barefoot in the street.

Investigators found some shell casings on the ground

and they found a bullet in the grass opposite the car.

They say it went through the passenger side car window,

They say it went through the passenger side car window,

hit Leithman, went through the driver's side window

and then came to a scorching stop in the grass.'

To this day, we have no idea who killed Sidney Leithman.

This was a man who was involved with so many different underworld figures in his life.

You never know when or where or from whom

You never know when or where or from whom

the bullet is going to come.

He'd been involved with the Columbians, with the Mafia

He'd been involved with the Columbians, with the Mafia

and with the Hell's Angels.

And of course he was also deeply involved with the West End Gang

and Allan Ross.

and Allan Ross.

Did he offend somebody, did he go too far?

Did he offend somebody, did he go too far?

Was he working too much with the competition?

You just never know, that's why it's the underworld.

You just never know, that's why it's the underworld.

So unless somebody actually comes out and confesses,

So unless somebody actually comes out and confesses,

I'm not sure we will ever find out what the real story is

behind Sidney Leithman's death.

In the summer of '92 I was working for the CBC TV programme

In the summer of '92 I was working for the CBC TV programme

'The Fifth Estate.'

It's the Canadian equivalent to '60 Minutes,'

it's a great investigative TV show.

it's a great investigative TV show.

My job was to develop stories and there were some interesting developments going on

with the drug trade and the West End Gang.

with the drug trade and the West End Gang.

Dan has great contacts with the police,

but he also has great contacts with the crime community.

So when Dan Burke comes to me and says, "Hey, we should do

So when Dan Burke comes to me and says, "Hey, we should do

the story on the West End Gang, it was a natural

for us to work on it together.

for us to work on it together.

How is it that Allan Ross gets away for so many years

being one of the most powerful drug traffickers in North America?

being one of the most powerful drug traffickers in North America?

It doesn't take Dan long to begin to hear whispers.

Everybody knew Allan Ross was a criminal and a crime boss.

Everybody knew Allan Ross was a criminal and a crime boss.

The question was, why wasn't he getting arrested?

The question was, why wasn't he getting arrested?

And the key there was Sidney Leithman.

So then the question was, who did Sidney Leithman have

So then the question was, who did Sidney Leithman have

in the police and the judiciary?

When big boys don't get arrested, it's because they have friends.

It was standard fare for us. It wasn't a big question mark.

It was standard fare for us. It wasn't a big question mark.

The question mark was who, not if.

You can probably investigate Montreal for corruption

at any point in history and have several stories.

at any point in history and have several stories.

But I was left with the impression that it was unusual

how they were operating at the RCMP drug squad in Montreal under Savoie.

how they were operating at the RCMP drug squad in Montreal under Savoie.

'So this confirmed to us, because you have to have

'So this confirmed to us, because you have to have

some evidence to believe something...' Claude Savoie for many years

was the head of the RCMP drug squad.

was the head of the RCMP drug squad.

So we're journalists, we go wherever the leads lead us.

Claude Savoie and I met at an office

Claude Savoie and I met at an office

at the RCMP headquarters. And I had a two-hour conversation with him.

I got the sense that he was a little nervous,

a little exasperated.

Under pressure.

Well, everybody in the world knew Allan Ross was a problem.

Well, everybody in the world knew Allan Ross was a problem.

And this guy is telling me "Well, Allan Ross isn't a problem."

Jeez. You don't even have to be a cop to know that.

Jeez. You don't even have to be a cop to know that.

So if Allan Ross isn't a problem,

then maybe Claude Savoie is a problem, you know?

then maybe Claude Savoie is a problem, you know?

'This is RCMP Inspector Claude Savoie in late 1990

'This is RCMP Inspector Claude Savoie in late 1990

when he was head of the RCMP drug squad in Montreal.

He's talking about why the police were losing ground to drug dealers.'

He's talking about why the police were losing ground to drug dealers.'

'Well, I am not sure I can answer that question.

Because if I could answer that question, we could probably solve the problem

and unfortunately we're not doing a good job at solving the problem right now.'

and unfortunately we're not doing a good job at solving the problem right now.'

Not a doubt in my mind that Claude Savoie would do anything

illegal or hurt the RCMP or hurt law enforcement, period.

He had a family and he was just a good guy.

We start meeting with police sources,

We start meeting with police sources,

who are careful, because they are police.

But they encourage us to keep digging.

But they encourage us to keep digging.

I asked Savoie about his relationship with Leithman.

Well, he does acknowledge the relationship

with Sidney Leithman, because that was true.

They were strange bedfellows.

They were strange bedfellows.

We keep digging and we find out that Claude Savoie

We keep digging and we find out that Claude Savoie

meets in a downtown restaurant with Allan Ross and Sidney Leithman.

Then we find out from a source that right above that restaurant

Then we find out from a source that right above that restaurant

is Sidney Leithman's office and Claude Savoie meets alone

is Sidney Leithman's office and Claude Savoie meets alone

with Allan Ross.

I know the guy is not going to confess to me, there is no way.

So I try to find out if he's lying,

So I try to find out if he's lying,

if I can prove that he's lying about something.

And I asked him, "How many times did you meet with Allan Ross?"

And I asked him, "How many times did you meet with Allan Ross?"

and he told me once.

And I said to him, "Just once?" and he said, "Yeah, just once."

And I said to him, "Just once?" and he said, "Yeah, just once."

I knew it was two times,

so he's lying.

Why is he lying? It's a symptom of corruption.

Why is he lying? It's a symptom of corruption.

The lie is a symptom of corruption.

What access to information that gave Allan Ross!

What access to information that gave Allan Ross!

That was astounding.

I mean, I've seen lots of corrupt cops

in the United States, but I've never seen anyone at that level.

in the United States, but I've never seen anyone at that level.

That was something. That was extraordinary.

Allan Ross has a base in Florida.

He's got a condo down there, he's got a yacht.

He conducts business down in Florida.

He has to know what the Americans have on him.

He has to know what the Americans have on him.

But by May 1991, Sidney Leithman gets whacked,

so Allan Ross doesn't have a choice. He's gotta deal directly

so Allan Ross doesn't have a choice. He's gotta deal directly

with his man inside the RCMP, Claude Savoie.

He is Allan Ross's friend inside law enforcement.

He is Allan Ross's friend inside law enforcement.

And Savoie calls out of the blue asking us all these questions,

and he's asking questions he should not be asking.

and he's asking questions he should not be asking.

He's trying to find out information on a grand jury indictment

which is secret. It is sealed by a court.

He was trying to use his status as a Mountie to get information

He was trying to use his status as a Mountie to get information

from federal agents in Florida.

Claude Savoie tells Allan Ross the Americans are looking for him.

Yet Ross still goes down to Florida. Why would he do that?

Yet Ross still goes down to Florida. Why would he do that?

He was arrogant.

He thought he could get away with it because he had gotten away with it so many times.

He thought he could get away with it because he had gotten away with it so many times.

We got our guys in Montreal watching him to alert us

when he actually does come down.

And sure enough he came to Florida. Huge mistake.

And sure enough he came to Florida. Huge mistake.

'This US Marshall shows us how on October 7th 1991,

'This US Marshall shows us how on October 7th 1991,

he arrested Canada's biggest drug baron.'

'I came behind him like this with my gun out here, advising him,

'I came behind him like this with my gun out here, advising him,

"Broward Sheriff Office, put your hands on top of your head."

As we were just about to the Marshal's office where I was taking him,

he told me or he said to me, "Well, it would sure be nice

he told me or he said to me, "Well, it would sure be nice

if I could give you like $200,000 and you'd let me go."

Not that I would. He said it in a way that I couldn't get him with bribery,

Not that I would. He said it in a way that I couldn't get him with bribery,

but I had no doubt if I had said OK, I'd be $200,000 richer right now.'

The trial is one of those classic scenes.

The trial is one of those classic scenes.

We're trying him in a small federal court

in Gainesville, Florida. We had looked at Allan Ross's history of violence

in Gainesville, Florida. We had looked at Allan Ross's history of violence

and we brought in a special team from the U.S. Marshall service.

We've got dogs, dope dogs, bomb dogs,

we've got snipers on the roof of the courthouse

we've got snipers on the roof of the courthouse

to make sure that he does not interrupt this trial.

When you're in the courthouse seeing a guy who is responsible

for ordering numerous murders over the years,

for ordering numerous murders over the years,

you sort of go in there and you're looking for something,

something in the man's face in a way that will reveal

something in the man's face in a way that will reveal

this person in his full gangster glory

and you're always disappointed.

and you're always disappointed.

There's nothing there, there's just nothing there.

'Ross was found guilty of conspiring to import and traffic

'Ross was found guilty of conspiring to import and traffic

over 10,000 kilos of cocaine and 300 tons of marijuana.'

It's Monday, December 21st, 1992,

just a few days before Christmas, there is snow on the ground,

just a few days before Christmas, there is snow on the ground,

you got Santa Claus all over the streets,

and the lights and the Christmas trees,

and the lights and the Christmas trees,

and two internal investigators of the RCMP show up

at Ottawa headquarters. They want to speak to Claude Savoie.

at Ottawa headquarters. They want to speak to Claude Savoie.

The RCMP knows we're going to air on Tuesday, they know

what we're investigating and on Monday morning, of all the days in the year,

what we're investigating and on Monday morning, of all the days in the year,

of all the time they are investigating Savoie,

they go meet Claude Savoie on the Monday before we go to air.

they go meet Claude Savoie on the Monday before we go to air.

They go into a room and they want Savoie to come into that room.

You know, the room is ready to tape, video, the whole thing,

You know, the room is ready to tape, video, the whole thing,

for this interview.

Savoie doesn't show up. They get a little impatient,

Savoie doesn't show up. They get a little impatient,

they walk down to his office,

they open the door...

.. and they find Savoie sprawled across his desk with a bullet in his head.

He had shot himself with his service revolver

which he had wrapped in the sleeve of his jacket

which he had wrapped in the sleeve of his jacket

to muffle the noise.

And that was the end of Savoie.

'Savoie killed himself shortly before he was supposed to meet with

'Savoie killed himself shortly before he was supposed to meet with

internal affairs investigators at RCMP headquarters in Ottawa.

The CBC's 'The Fifth Estate' had been preparing

The CBC's 'The Fifth Estate' had been preparing

an investigative report on the failures of the Montreal drug squad.'

Wow. That was big news to me,

Wow. That was big news to me,

you know. It was a hell of a development.

At The Fifth Estate we had an expression, "the smoking gun."

At The Fifth Estate we had an expression, "the smoking gun."

Well, that might have been the first time ever we had a literal smoking gun.

Well, that might have been the first time ever we had a literal smoking gun.

For you, his suicide was proof of Claude Savoie's guilt?

For you, his suicide was proof of Claude Savoie's guilt?

Yeah, without a question. I mean,

obviously the guy couldn't face the music.

obviously the guy couldn't face the music.

And that's how it ended for him.

You don't feel any guilt in that? We were doing our job

You don't feel any guilt in that? We were doing our job

as reporters, but if you and I hadn't started the story,

hadn't investigated the story, Claude Savoie would be alive.

hadn't investigated the story, Claude Savoie would be alive.

Do you ever feel any guilt about that?

No, not at all.

No, not at all.

It may seem cold-blooded, but...

.. yeah, I'd be faking it if I said I felt bad about it.

.. yeah, I'd be faking it if I said I felt bad about it.

He made his own bed and, you know... and that's how he decided to lie in it.

He made his own bed and, you know... and that's how he decided to lie in it.

He couldn't face it. He just couldn't face it, you know?

I was shocked at what he did. His guilt, his guilt.

I was shocked at what he did. His guilt, his guilt.

Just too much.

Did he get money off of Leithman, did he put other cops' lives

Did he get money off of Leithman, did he put other cops' lives

in danger? Obviously he did.

He betrayed me, because I was a cop and a friend of his.

'This is how the Mounties react to allegations of corruption

within their Montreal drug squad and the suicide of its former commander,

within their Montreal drug squad and the suicide of its former commander,

a press release saying they are looking into the matter.

No questions accepted.'

They were investigating Claude Savoie. We didn't know that.

They were investigating Claude Savoie. We didn't know that.

And they were closing in on him

and they were worried about our investigation.

'Suspicion first fell on Inspector Savoie

after the May, 1991 murder of Sidney Leithman,

after the May, 1991 murder of Sidney Leithman,

a Montreal lawyer known for defending and socialising with Colombian drug barons.

When the police go through his clothes, in his back pocket

When the police go through his clothes, in his back pocket

they find a handwritten phone number...

.. to the guy who heads the RCMP drug squad in Montreal,

.. to the guy who heads the RCMP drug squad in Montreal,

Claude Savoie.

So Savoie is dead, the RCMP continue their investigation

for another year, they bust into his bank accounts,

for another year, they bust into his bank accounts,

his safety deposit boxes. They find $200,000.

They concluded he had been paid off over time by the West End Gang

They concluded he had been paid off over time by the West End Gang

for information.

The West End Gang felt they were above the law.

They were corrupting police, corrupting lawyers.

And in the process they were corrupting the whole system.

And in the process they were corrupting the whole system.

The thing with drug organisations, it's not just the drugs,

the major problem is the power they get from the money.

the major problem is the power they get from the money.

These people produced enormous amounts of money.

Money on this planet is power and power corrupts.

A lot of the guys who worked for Dunie Ryan are dead.

A lot of the guys who worked for Dunie Ryan are dead.

All the guys who killed Dunie Ryan are dead.

Sidney Leithman is dead, Allan Ross is in jail in the United States.

Sidney Leithman is dead, Allan Ross is in jail in the United States.

There's been a cleansing, a pretty bloody cleansing

There's been a cleansing, a pretty bloody cleansing

of the West End Gang, and the man who rises out of that pool

is Gerry Matticks.

is Gerry Matticks.

Either he must have felt really lucky or he felt invincible

and he's operating now at the highest levels,

and he's operating now at the highest levels,

he is talking to the highest people in the Hell's Angels and that I think was his downfall.

'Police fanned out across the province,

swooping down and arresting 120 bikers and their associates.'

swooping down and arresting 120 bikers and their associates.'

'560 police officer involved in 70 raids across the province

'560 police officer involved in 70 raids across the province

in 24 municipalities.'

The police arrested Gerry Matticks in 2001.

'We believe with these arrests, the West End Gang

is mainly out of order for a while.'

is mainly out of order for a while.'

The guys still around that I interviewed from the West End Gang,

The guys still around that I interviewed from the West End Gang,

they were kinda sad. They were kinda sad,

because a large part of their life had been spent in prison.

because a large part of their life had been spent in prison.

They were not happy people.

They would say, "Yeah, that was exciting at times,

They would say, "Yeah, that was exciting at times,

but it wasn't worth it. It was not worth it."

It was a world that I think a lot of people got messed up with.

Yeah, of course. A lot of individuals.

Yeah, of course. A lot of individuals.

It's a sad story. A lot of sad stories.

You know, it's sad, there are no more old guys any more.

They are mostly all gone. Most of the guys are gone.

They are mostly all gone. Most of the guys are gone.

I walked away and never went back.

I knew that if I ever went back I would stay there.

I became a drug addict.

But I might have become a drug addict anyway.

It's been a roller-coaster, my life. But look at me now.

It's been a roller-coaster, my life. But look at me now.

I could beat the devil.

Yeah, I did my bit, and that was being a responsible journalist.

And, uh...

And, uh...

Looking at it now, I realise there was so much violence,

but I wasn't thinking that when I was growing up.

but I wasn't thinking that when I was growing up.

I'm OK.

Pursuing education became my ticket out of poverty

and then I became a writer and ended up writing two books

and then I became a writer and ended up writing two books

about growing up in the neighbourhood.

Some of the gang members found out about the book

and were really upset and were sending me

all kinds of threatening emails. I thought, "Kiss my ass."

all kinds of threatening emails. I thought, "Kiss my ass."

Was it worth it, what I did, was it really worth it what I did?

I don't think so.

I don't think so.

It's worth it for some people, if I succeeded in helping some people,

then that's what the worth is all about. The rest, you won't change the system.

then that's what the worth is all about. The rest, you won't change the system.

They don't want somebody like me.

The system doesn't give a shit about me, you know.

The system doesn't give a shit about me, you know.

That's what I think. It doesn't care.

When it comes to the underworld, this is the way the story always ends,

all the people are either dead or in prison.

all the people are either dead or in prison.

If there was anything special about the West End Gang,

it is the speed at which they rose and the speed at which they fell.

it is the speed at which they rose and the speed at which they fell.

Through their own hubris, through their own violence,

they fell just as fast as they rose.

they fell just as fast as they rose.

And it happened almost overnight in the annals of crime history.

The West End Gang thrived because of powerful leaders

The West End Gang thrived because of powerful leaders

like Dunie Ryan, Allan Ross, Gerry Matticks.

They needed those kinds of leaders who had the connections,

They needed those kinds of leaders who had the connections,

the violence, the willingness to do anything to hold on to power.

When those leaders were gone, you still had some Irish gangsters

working at the port, but they could never recapture that old glory.

working at the port, but they could never recapture that old glory.

When you have a city that has a major port,

you're always going to have one crime gang that's gonna rise to the top.

It's just a matter of who's the king.

It's just a matter of who's the king.

Nobody wins a whole war in organised crime.

There is no winner in that. Nothing has changed.

There is no winner in that. Nothing has changed.

Nothing has changed.

'Most illegal drugs coming to Canada

flow through Quebec.'

flow through Quebec.'

'... ce qu'il fait du port, l'endroit ou la crime organise est le plus actif au Quebec.'

'Former Montreal police officers say they found evidence

of police corruption within the force

of police corruption within the force

and tried to report it.' 'The charges are very serious,

gangsterism, breach of trust and obstruction of justice.'

'This network allegedly imported 1.4 tonnes of cocaine.'

'This network allegedly imported 1.4 tonnes of cocaine.'

# SHANE MURPHY: 'Dirty Work'

# SHANE MURPHY: 'Dirty Work'