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Illicit Drugs
Threat Issue
The illicit drug industry in Canada provides organized crime with one of its most financially lucrative criminal endeavours.There is very little opportunity for individual criminal entrepreneurs to participate substantially in this illicit trade if they are not in some manner aligned with, associated to, or supplied by a larger criminal group.As well, the various aspects of this illicit industry often require resources and expertise that only organized crime groups can provide or have access to. In Canada, organized crime either directly controls or indirectly influences all aspects of the illicit drug industry whether it be cultivation, manufacture, importation or distribution.
“Substantive evidence indicates that about 95% of the property crime reported to us is directly linked to the illicit drug trade, which is, for all intents and purposes controlled by organized crime groups that have refined the ability to profit from criminal activity to a science.” Chief Richard Deering, |
In this year’s report, CISC will highlight certain illicit drugs that are currently in higher demand within the relatively small illicit drug consumer population in Canada, including: marihuana, cocaine, heroin and the chemical-based substances of ecstasy and methamphetamine. These illicit drugs are available, to varying degrees, in all regions of Canada, with marihuana clearly the most widely abused illicit drug substance.The reasons for illicit drug usage varies by the drug and the individual, but are diverse and sufficient enough to continually maintain an illicit consumer demand in Canada that can only be supplied through criminal means.
Aside from significant quantities of marihuana and some synthetic chemical drugs, the bulk of illicit drugs consumed in Canada originates abroad, and therefore must be smuggled into the country.This illegal movement requires considerable planning and organizational capacities and available financial and human resources.Typically it is the more sophisticated organized crime groups in Canada who possess the necessary international criminal contacts in source and transit countries that can carry out these conspiracies. Crime groups involved in this international movement into Canada are varied.
Overview of Criminal Activity
Cannabis
