Organized Crime Awareness

Organized criminal activity in Canada is a multi-faceted problem that requires a broad-based, integrated approach by the country’s law enforcement agencies.

The RCMP works closely with its partners to combat organized crime in all of its forms.

Organized Crime is one of five strategic priorities established by the RCMP. It is defined by Canada’s Criminal Code as crime committed by any group of at least three people that has as one of its main purposes or activities the facilitation or commission of one or more serious offences where the primary motive is profit.

How does Organized Crime impact Canadians?

• threats to public health and safety through faulty counterfeit goods
• drug-related violence
• higher automobile insurance premiums resulting from organized car thefts
• massive tax revenue losses from contraband alcohol and tobacco
• motorcycle gang wars
• economic fraud.

Counterfeit Goods

Counterfeit goods are not only of inferior quality but can be life threatening if they do not meet Canadian Health or safety standards e.g.:

• counterfeit pharmaceuticals
• contaminated baby food, E-Coli in hair care products
• faulty electrical products (extension cords causing fires)

Please note that this list is not complete and more items can be found to be counterfeited.

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Drugs

Drug Endangered Children
Children living in Marihuana Grow Operations (MGOs) or Clandestine Labs are threatened by toxic mold, volatile chemicals, violence, abuse, and neglect. The threat of fire and electrocution is also significantly higher in both MGOs and Clandestine Labs.

Clandestine Labs
Clandestine drug labs are increasingly situated in suburban neighborhoods. Clan labs use highly volatile chemicals that greatly increase the potential for explosions.

Child Sexual Abuse

The sexual exploitation of children which is facilitated by the Internet and the commercial sexual exploitation of children can cause long-term damage to the victims’ physical and emotional health and destroys lives.

Child Sexual Abuse Images: Globally, profits from child sexual abuse images are estimated at approximately $24 billion per year (Canadian dollars).

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Human Trafficking vs Human Smuggling

Human trafficking and human smuggling are two different things. The differences are as follows:

Trafficking in Persons (TIP): involves the recruitment, transportation or harbouring of persons for the purpose of exploitation (typically in the sex industry or for forced labour). Traffickers use various methods to maintain control over their victims, including force, sexual assault and threats of violence.

TIP may occur across or within borders, often involves extensive organized crime networks and is clearly a violation of the basic human rights of its victims. The relationship between the trafficker and the migrant is continuous and extends beyond the border crossing. The trafficked person can be forced into labour, prostitution or some other form of servitude. Victims can suffer abuse before, during and after transportation and can face fatal consequences if they attempt to escape.

Human smuggling: is a form of illegal migration involving the organized transport of a person across the border usually in exchange for a sum of money and sometimes in dangerous conditions. The safety of the individual is most precarious during transport, especially if the fee has already been paid. When the final destination is reached, the business relationship ends, and the smuggler and the individual part company.