Serious and Organized Crime in Canada

Serious and organized crime continues to be a threat to public safety. It contributes to thousands of deaths per year from overdoses related to illicit drugs and gang violence.

We're releasing this report publicly to raise awareness about the nature and extent of organized crime threats in Canada.

For a copy of the full report, please contact us at CISC_Tasking@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

Highlights of the report

More than 1850 organized crime groups are currently operating in Canada. Despite repeated law enforcement efforts, many have adapted to their changing environments.

These high-level threats:

• have interprovincial networks
• have international connections
• engage in multiple criminal markets
• use violence to further their criminal business
• have a large number of criminal group links

Outlaw motorcycle gangs

Outlaw motorcycle gangs continue to be among the most prominent organized crime groups in Canada. They manage vast drug territories and take part in:

• money laundering
• illegal gaming
• the sex trade
• synthetic drug production
• financial crime

Traditional organized crime

Traditional organized crime networks take part in various criminal activities, including:

• importing, exporting, and distributing illicit drugs
• illegal gaming
• loan sharking
• extortion
• intimidation, violence, homicide
• money laundering
• financial crime
• fraud

They maintain control of hundreds of businesses in many industries, including:

• food services
• transportation
• construction and haulage
• property management
• finances/loans
• payday loan businesses
• real estate companies
• businesses they can run using only cash, for money laundering

Criminal networks

Cocaine is still one of the most common criminal markets in Canada. Organized crime groups continue to work with Mexican and Columbian drug trafficking organizations. In 2019, there are more than 100 Canadian organized crime groups importing cocaine into Canada, or using Canada as a transit country to move cocaine to other markets.

At least 50 organized crime groups move chemicals used for making:

• synthetic drugs
• methamphetamine
• fentanyl (and its analogues)

Higher-level organized crime groups may have almost unlimited access to chemicals and operate highly sophisticated and large-scale illicit underground labs.

Money laundering is a key activity for organized crime groups. One particular network has laundered hundreds of millions of dollars in proceeds of crime through:

• casinos
• using underground banking systems
• illegal gaming houses/sites
• shell companies
• trade based money laundering
• and real estate investments

Illegal gaming is one of the more lucrative markets for organized crime groups. It generates millions of dollars in revenue. The groups use this money to fund other criminal activities such as importing and trafficking drugs.

Street gangs

Street gangs take part in:

• illicit drug markets (mostly in a retail to mid-level distribution role)
• theft-related activities (including break-and-enters and home invasions)
• violent incidents (including shootings and sex crimes)

They pose a threat to public safety because:

• Ongoing rivalries between street gangs create fear in communities
• Ready access to firearms may lead to an increase in shootings
• Expanded reach may mean that street gangs increase the threat of violence in areas where they have not operated before

Date modified:

2019-12-18