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Looking to the Future
Criminal Markets
The illicit drug trade in Canada is fed by a consumer demand that will not diminish in the near future. This market will continue to provide organized crime groups with their largest source of illicit earnings. Regional illicit drug markets should experience only temporary market fluctuations in supply driven by the dynamics of supply and demand. The much larger neighbouring U.S. consumer market and its greater potential for even higher illicit profits will continue to encourage an increasing domestic production of marihuana and synthetic drugs, particularly ecstasy and methamphetamine.
Organized crime exists in more than one form. A challenge for police is to communicate with the public and officials in a way that explains and makes clear the continuum represented from street gangs through to international criminal enterprises. Organized crime needs to be recognized in its infancy as well as in its maturity if we are to be successful in dismantling it. Chief Cal Johnston, |
Criminal groups will remain involved in a variety of frauds throughout Canada, with the social and economic repercussions representing significant threats to both individual Canadians and financial institutions. Financial institutions will remain vulnerable to money laundering with criminal groups continuing to exploit the legitimate business community by laundering illicit proceeds, reinvesting criminal proceeds and undertaking activities like the illicit manipulation of stock markets.
Organized crime in Canada will continue to pose serious safety threats to the public through involvement in criminal activities ranging from counterfeit goods, to human smuggling and trafficking, to the sex trade. In addition, criminal groups will continue to use violence and intimidation as a key method through which to deter witnesses and community crime prevention efforts and impede law enforcement and the judicial system.
Street Gangs
Canadian street gangs will continue to pose lower-level criminal threats and remain involved in the illicit drug trade and street-level prostitution as their primary criminal activities. However, their use of violence is often spontaneously carried out in public places and represents a public safety threat. As a result, street gangs will continue to pose a serious and immediate public safety concern in the communities where they operate. In addition, the intimidation of witnesses and justice personnel negatively affects both the individuals targeted as well as the broader community.
Most street gangs are not expected to evolve into more sophisticated criminal organizations, although some key members or leaders will continue to increase their capabilities and level of sophistication in criminal activities.
Street gangs will continue to rely upon other criminal organizations for supplies of illicit drugs as the majority of street gangs do not have importation, cultivation or production capabilities. Several more sophisticated street gangs will continue to distribute illicit drugs to street gangs with more limited capabilities.
