Common menu bar links
CISC National Monitored Issues
Organized Crime and the Diamond Industry
Highlights
|
National Overview
The diamond industry in Canada is an established enterprise with a minimum life-span of twenty-five years. In the past year, Canada has risen to become the world’s third largest diamond-producing country by value, exceeded only by Botswana and Russia. This rise in standing is due largely to the recovery of higher-quality stones than previously expected from the Diavik diamond mine in the Northwest Territories (NWT). Additional mines in the north are expected to begin production shortly, including Tahera Corporation’s Jericho project located in Nunavut, projected to begin by 2006, and DeBeers’ Snap Lake mine located in the NWT that is projected to be in full production in 2007.
Exploration continues to expand throughout Canada including sites in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and Labrador. Outside the NWT, the most advanced exploration is occurring at the Victor site in northern Ontario which will likely begin producing diamonds by 2007. No other sites currently under exploration are in the process of active development of mining operations.
There is currently no indication of organized crime infiltration into the primary Canadian diamond industry.6 The remote location and heavy security at the mine sites make this prospect unlikely.
The diamond industry remains potentially vulnerable to organized crime infiltration in most stages of the diamond pipeline from kimberlite exploration to the final delivery of stones to retail markets. During exploration, the diamond industry is vulnerable to the infiltration of individuals associated to organized crime into areas that have the potential to provide them indirect access to the diamond industry or rough stones. In particular, junior venture and contract companies, which supply much of the labour and expertise during test drilling, sampling, etc., are vulnerable to infiltration attempts. Individuals employed by these companies can have access to core samples, statistical data and potential mine sites. In particular, during exploration there is the potential for stock market manipulation where the misrepresentation of company stock portfolios via sample salting7 and false reporting of diamond findings can result not only in damage to the integrity of the primary diamond industry but also in potentially negative effects on Canadian financial markets.
A significant secondary diamond industry has developed throughout Canada that includes the sorting, cutting and polishing, marketing of rough stones as well as related warehousing, transport, construction and security. There are a wide range of opportunities for organized crime in these secondary industries as they vary widely in terms of hiring practices, mine access and contact with rough diamonds. In particular, due to a lack of skilled Canadian workers, the cutting and polishing field has broadened employment opportunities for foreign workers. Instances of foreign criminal records and connections to organized crime have been discovered in background checks on some workers.
EEOC is a significant potential threat to the integrity of the Canadian diamond industry both domestically and internationally. Due to the success of the diamond industry in Russia, several EEOC groups have used their significant knowledge, experience and worldwide networks in the international diamond industry to further their illicit interests. This ability to benefit from knowledge in the diamond industry is demonstrated by EEOC’s involvement in other diamond-producing countries such as South Africa, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is this knowledge and experience which are threats to the Canadian diamond industry as there is the potential for them to be applied for illicit purposes in Canada. Of concern, in particular, is the potential for conflict diamonds 8 to be mixed illegally with Canadian diamonds, thereby having a serious effect on the valuation of Canadian diamonds worldwide.
Domestically, there is the potential for EEOC to gain access to rough diamonds via secondary industries which would open the possibility of mixing and/or diverting lower-valued diamonds (most likely from other countries) during the cutting process, as well as providing easy access to a sophisticated means of money laundering.
Other organized crime groups, such as the HELLS ANGELS, have also expressed an interest in the secondary diamond industry via attempts to gain employment in a variety of areas, including construction, transportation and cutting and polishing. However, as a result of stringent diligence in hiring practices, no known organized crime member has gained access to the primary diamond industry. As well, organized crime interest in the diamond industry is consistently monitored by the RCMP-led diamond protection service with the cooperation of the Canadian diamond and diamond exploration industry.
Outlook
|
6The primary diamond industry comprises exploration and mining operations, whereas the secondary diamond industry refers to businesses which relate to or support the primary industry such as construction, transport and cutting and polishing houses, etc.
7 Sample salting occurs when diamonds or diamonds of higher quality are manually added to a diamond or kimberlite sample, thereby causing a false positive finding of diamonds or falsely increasing the potential value of the diamond find.
8 Conflict diamonds originate in countries controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments; the civil unrest is fueled and perpetuated by diamond profits that are used to fund military action.
