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Criminal Markets

Environmental Crime

Environmental crimes range from poaching and capturing rare and endangered species of flora and fauna (to either be sold as food in local markets, specialty foods to national and international markets, medicines or as live additions to private collections), to the illegal harvesting of timber, illegal gemstone and mineral mining and the illegal transport and disposal of hazardous waste, among others. Environmental damage can also result from the dumping of waste from methamphetamine production and marihuana grow operations. Canada has been the destination country for poached goods including Australian shark fin, caviar, live reptiles, amphibians and mammals. It is also a source country for bear gallbladders that are prized as a traditional Chinese medicine.

Examining Environmental Crime

Trafficking in endangered or protected species is a form of organized crime commerce. A joint investigation, dubbed "Operation ShellShock", started approximately two years ago by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and it focused on the illegal trade of protected reptiles and amphibians. The Ontario investigation was conducted in cooperation with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Canada Border Services Agency and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Reptiles are often sold over the Internet or at herpetological ("herp") shows, which are similar to gun shows. Authorities involved in the investigation went undercover to monitor websites and chat rooms and set up sting operations to stop the trafficking of at risk species. The investigation revealed more than 2,400 animals were illegally sold or poached. Thirty-four charges were laid against three Ontario residents for various violations.

In May 2009, one of the accused was handed a 90-day jail sentence, two years of probation, and a $4,000 fine for his part in this criminal activity. This individual attempted to sell 35 Eastern Massasauga rattlesnakes, which had been transported in pillowcases, as well as one spotted turtle, to an undercover officer in a Buffalo mall parking lot, in exchange for Timber rattlers and a small amount of cash.

A Director with Environment Canada said that the convictions represent real progress in meting out penalties for crime against animals. Similar crimes only a few years ago amounted to a $50 fine.

"The Canada Border Services Agency is uniquely situated to bring the border dimension to our police and law enforcement partners. Information is valuable, but even more so when shared at the right time informing law enforcement activities and decision-makers."
Canada Border Services Agency, Director General of the Intelligence Directorate, Geoff Leckey

CBA Intelligence Unit wins IALEIA Award
Taking the lead in prevention, detection, and investigation of financial crime

The Canadian Bankers Association recently established its own Centralized Financial Crimes Intelligence Unit (CFCIU) and has already received international recognition for making the most significant progress utilizing intelligence analytical techniques to support law enforcement objectives.

In April 2009, representatives from the Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) convened in Las Vegas, Nevada to attend a conference hosted by the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA). CBA was presented with the 2009 Professional Service Award in the National Organization Category. Specifically, CBA was recognized for their reports on ABM/ATM card fraud crime hotspots, which includes crime mapping, link analysis, day of week matrices and predictive analysis on next target locations. CFCIU's analysis and information has led to numerous arrests in Canada; for example, in March 2009 there were 20 arrests in one weekend for ATM-related frauds at locations in Montreal and Toronto. These areas were placed under surveillance pursuant to predictive analysis reports from the CFCIU.

IALEIA is the largest professional organization in the world representing law enforcement analysts. It promotes the highest standards of professionalism in law enforcement intelligence analysis at the local, provincial, national and international levels. CFCIU has demonstrated its initiatives in advancing these core principles and continues to maintain public confidence and the safety and security of customers, employees and the banking system in Canada.

CBA is a member agency of both Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario and Criminal Intelligence Service British Columbia/Yukon Territory. As a recent and proud new member, and with this recognition by IALEIA, CBA will continue to advance intelligence-led policing and work with law enforcement to reduce the impact of organized crime across Canada.

Criminal Market: Financial Crime