Common menu bar links
Executive Summary
The CISC Annual Report on Organized Crime in Canada is the primary way for CISC to inform the public of organized and serious crime issues as they affect Canada. Not only does CISC seek to raise public awareness, particularly of the negative socio-economic effects of organized crime, but also encourages the public's support of law enforcement's efforts to combat organized criminal activities. Contributions to the report derive from CISC's approximately 380 law enforcement member agencies.
As mandated by its Executive Committee, CISC reports on national intelligence priorities. The following comprise CISC's national organized crime priorities for 2004: Asian-based, Eastern European-based crime groups, organized crime at marine ports, airports and land border areas, outlaw motorcycle gangs and Traditional (Italian-based) crime groups. CISC also monitors serious crime issues, including: Aboriginal-based organized crime, illicit movement of firearms, organized crime and the diamond industry, sexual exploitation of children, street gangs and technology and crime. In this year's report, CISC also examines selected socio-economic effects of organized crime in Canada.
Asian-based organized crime (AOC) in the B.C. Lower Mainland and the greater Toronto area influences criminal activities and the supply of illicit commodities to other organized crime groups in various regions across the country. AOC will continue to pose a major threat in Canada through its multiple, sophisticated criminal activities, its significant criminal influence in many areas across the country and its supply of illicit drugs to other organized crime groups. Across the country, Vietnamese-based groups remain extensively involved in multiple residential marihuana grow operations with distribution within Canada and to the U.S.
Eastern European-based organized crime (EEOC) networks operate across the country; however, they continue to be concentrated in Ontario, with significant presence noted in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec. EEOC groups in Canada are known to be opportunistic, with an ability to be involved in numerous criminal enterprises. EEOC strategically forms partnerships with other organized crime groups in Canada and internationally to help carry out its criminal enterprises.
Organized crime exploits any potential conduit to move illicit commodities from source or transit countries to their illegal consumer markets in Canada, in particular marine ports, airports or across land border areas. Due to a large volume of commercial traffic, marine ports remain vulnerable as conduits for contraband, in some instances aided by criminal elements influencing or operating within the ports. Similarly, Canada's airports are vulnerable to criminal exploitation and infiltration particularly at the major international airports. Organized crime will continue to exploit the large volume of land commercial and traveler movement between the U.S. and Canada to conceal and move contraband, currency and humans in both directions. As well, they will similarly exploit the less monitored areas between the designated customs ports of entry.
The HELLS ANGELS remains the largest and most powerful outlaw motorcycle gang (OMG) in Canada with the OUTLAWS and BANDIDOS currently maintaining a low profile. The HELLS ANGELS in British Columbia and several chapters in Ontario remain sophisticated and well-established; however, the group is facing challenges throughout the rest of the country as a direct result of being successfully targeted by law enforcement, from internal conflict and from increased competition from other criminal organizations. In Alberta, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, the HELLS ANGELS is facing increased competition in illicit drug activities from other organized crime groups.
Traditional (Italian-based) organized crime (TOC) is centred in Montreal, the greater Toronto area, Hamilton and the Niagara region, but is also present in Vancouver and Calgary and appears to have influence in other regions across the country. There may be some changes in the leadership and/or organization and operations of TOC in Ontario and Quebec due to a recent law enforcement action on a major TOC figure in Canada. TOC will continue to engage in the illicit drug trade and white-collar crime as well as investing criminal profits in both legitimate businesses and illicit activities.
Aboriginal-based crime groups take advantage of some Aboriginal reserves on or near the Canada/U.S. border to facilitate or conduct criminal activities. Aboriginal-based street gang recruitment typically focuses on Aboriginal youth, creating the next generation of gang members. Violence between the Aboriginal-based street gangs is expected to continue, posing a threat to public safety in some communities.
All organized crime groups are involved in illicit firearm activities in some manner and individual gang members often possess numerous firearms of various types. In urban centres across Canada, crime gangs increasingly possess illicit firearms, particularly handguns, that are used in acts of violence and intimidation. Firearms smuggled from the U.S. or stolen within Canada will remain the primary sources of illicit firearms.
There is no indication that organized crime has infiltrated the primary diamond industry in Canada. However, some interest has been demonstrated by Eastern European-based organized crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs to explore opportunities relating to the secondary diamond industry. As Canada is increasing diamond production, there will be a corresponding increase in vulnerabilities and potential points of infiltration by organized crime groups.
Technological advances are facilitating the sexual exploitation of children through the increased availability of child pornography in Canada and internationally. On-line criminal networks are sharing child pornography and learning how to avoid detection from law enforcement, acquire more images and produce child pornography. Child prostitution continues to exist; its presence has been reported in many regions across Canada.
Intimidation, assaults or homicides are an integral component of street gang interactions. This violence is a serious threat to public safety, resulting in injuries and a sense of insecurity in communities. Currently, many street gangs have linkages with the more established organized crime groups that range from a criminal business association to serving in a support function to assist in criminal activities.
Technology facilitates individual criminals or organized crime groups in their involvement in both traditional and new crimes, increasing the scope and potential impact of their criminal activities.
Identity theft, an increasingly prevalent crime, enables criminals to use stolen personal information to drain individuals' bank accounts and obtain fraudulent documentation allowing the commission of other criminal acts.
Large and small communities across the country continue to be negatively affected by the often subtle yet complex effects of organized crime activities. CISC has selected significant criminal issues to highlight how organized crime directly and indirectly affects Canadians' public safety, economic well-being and sense of community. These issues include: violence, illicit drugs, marihuana grow operations, methamphetamine, contraband, counterfeit goods, human smuggling/trafficking, insurance costs and money laundering.
Canadians pay for increased law enforcement, judicial and corrections costs, as well as additional costs for health and social services to address issues such as illicit drug and gambling addictions. Insurance fraud costs Canadians more than a billion dollars annually through insurance premiums.
The cultivation and manufacture of illicit drugs in Canada pose a variety of potentially harmful public safety effects. For example, competition between individuals involved in marihuana cultivation has resulted in a number of assaults and homicides. Marihuana grow operations also often contain numerous fire hazards, while fires and explosions have occurred at clandestine methamphetamine laboratories.
Trafficked women can acquire and transmit sexually transmitted and infectious diseases in Canada's sex trade. Some individuals smuggled/trafficked into Canada may have serious criminal records. Counterfeit goods may contravene legal labelling regulations and safety standards, as they may contain only inactive ingredients, incorrect ingredients, improper dosages or be contaminated.
Organized crime groups and their criminal activities have diverse and varying negative impacts, affecting individual Canadians and communities nationally with various societal, economic, health and safety repercussions. The Canadian law enforcement community will continue in its coordinated efforts to combat organized and serious crime in Canada and to reduce its negative impacts on individuals and communities throughout the country.
CISC is cognizant that not all organized crime groups or serious crime issues that affect Canada are discussed within this Annual Report. There are many crime groups that do not readily fit within the broad-based cultural-geographic groupings used by CISC as a basic intelligence framework. In some instances, crime groups outside the framework may engage in criminal activities that are equal to or surpass the scope and magnitude of organized crime groups within CISC's current national intelligence priorities and monitored issues. In future Annual Reports on Organized Crime, CISC will work towards better assessing the level of criminality and threat posed by such groups.
