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Pan Macmillan. This edition published Oct 2008
Reviewed by Sunnie Gill
Non-fiction
Aaah, America. Land of the free, home of the ... free-market economy? Who
knew that there are people out there who earn their livings by hiring
themselves out to law enforcement agencies, to gather intelligence by
infiltrating gangs and organisations? We’re not talking about undercover
cops here. These are civilians.
One such civilian is Alex Caine. Caine grew up in Canada and had a
tumultuous childhood, frequently skating around the fringes of the law. In
the late 1960s, looking for something more adventurous, he travelled to
the USA, enlisted in the army and spent time fighting in Vietnam. On his
return he found it difficult to settle down.
Caine was and is a martial arts aficionado. One day while attending a
competition he was befriended by a fellow practitioner who was a member of
the Bandidos motorcycle gang. In the course of conversation, Caine was
asked if he was interested in helping to make a large drug buy.
Disconcerted, Caine gave a non-committal answer. He later told his wife
who encouraged him to report this offer to the authorities, which he duly
did. Not long after, he was approached by the Mounties and asked if he was
interested in accepting the offer and infiltrating the gang. So began
Caine’s new career.
Over a period of twenty or so years Caine infiltrated gangs such as the
Bandidos, the Hells Angels, and even the KKK. He also made contacts with
and supplied information on Asian Triads, Russian mobsters and corrupt
cops.
BEFRIEND AND BETRAY is an insider’s story of this complex and murky world
where you can trust no one. Not only did Caine have to be wary of the gang
he was infiltrating, but he also had to be circumspect about who he
trusted in law enforcement. His is a story of creating alternative
identities and living on his wits, often for months at a time. It makes
compelling reading.
Just how such people live, how they maintain their own identity and the
effects on their relationships outside their work is as fascinating as the
details of the work itself. In some instances Caine’s story raises as many
questions as it answers. Just how effective are these types of operations?
The biggest success of his career, Caine feels is his first, the
infiltration of the Bandidos. It resulted in dozens of arrests across the
USA, Canada and internationally, but ultimately it didn’t put a stop to
the gang’s drug-dealing activities. It just slowed it down for a while.
I thought BEFRIEND AND BETRAY said as much about the character of Alex
Caine as it did about the gangs he was infiltrating. Caine’s seemingly
burning need for danger and excitement appeared to come before anything
else. With a trail of failed marriages and estranged children behind him,
Caine has finally given up this work. At least that’s what he claims in
his book. The author blurb tells us that Alex Caine now works as an
advisor on motorcycle gang investigations and is a frequent guest speaker
at police conferences. He is a certified fifth-degree black belt martial
artist. One does wonder about the ultimate cost of his unconventional
life. Will he be alone in his old age or will his desire for living on the
edge once more take control and lead him back to the old life and
ultimately cost him his?
Dec 2008 review originally posted on Murder and Mayhem
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