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Illicit Drugs
Cocaine
Overview of Criminal Activity
A major cocaine smuggling organization was disrupted in September 2004 by numerous arrests as a result of a successful joint forces investigation under the name Project CALVETTE.This crime organization supplied large quantities of cocaine to associates and various other organized crime groups operating in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia.The arrest of four Quebec residents and the seizure of 750 kilograms of cocaine from a sailboat was linked to this organization as was the seizure of 12 kilograms of cocaine in April 2004 at Sept-Iles, Québec linked to a cargo ship from Venezuela. |
Most cocaine consumed in Canada originates from South America and travels to Canada either directly or through one or more transit countries.The Caribbean is a significant transit region for the smuggling of cocaine into Canada. Of cocaine seized at Canadian points of entry, Jamaica and Haiti were the major transit points identified, followed by other islands such as, St. Lucia, St. Martin and Curaçao. Cocaine transiting the Caribbean enters Canada through international airports, particularly Toronto’s Pearson International and Montreal’s Pierre Elliot Trudeau, concealed within luggage or commercial cargo.As well, cocaine is moved into Canada through commercial and private marine vessels.
There is a wide range of crime groups involved in the movement of cocaine into Canada including South American-based drug trafficking organizations, as well as Italian and Caribbean crime groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs in Canada.As well, there are independent and unaligned criminal organizations who are also involved in large-scale smuggling operations and who either have their own domestic distribution networks and/or may sell their contraband to other organized crime groups.
“The recent arrest and charges of local crack cocaine dealers and their suppliers from Calgary proves the existence of a link to, and, support from organized crime in that larger centre. Any community where illegal drugs are available must combat organized crime. Medicine Hat is now considered a franchise area for such dealings.” Chief Norm Boucher, |
South American cocaine bound for the Canadian criminal market also often transits through the United States. Cocaine smuggled from the United States is often acquired at distribution centres in southwestern states and subsequently moved through Canadian land border points in British Columbia and Southern Ontario. Commercial vehicles are particularly favoured as means of cross-border transportation.
