RCMP Proceeds of Crime

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Proceeds of Crime

FINTRAC
The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada

MANDATE

The mandate of the Proceeds of Crime Program is to remove criminal incentive by providing a proactive comprehensive and innovative investigative service to field units, partners and clients based on a consultative, participative and team approach."

AUTHORITY

The Proceeds of Crime program relies on various provisions of the Criminal Code, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Customs Act, Excise Act, Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, and Seized Property Management Act.

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DESCRIPTION

The Proceeds of Crime (POC) program is directed at identifying, assessing, restraining and forfeiting illicit and/or unreported wealth accumulated through criminal activities.

Most of the POC sections work under an "Integrated" model. These "Integrated Proceeds of Crime" (IPOC) Units bring together the skills, knowledge, and abilities of a diverse group of experts, including RCMP investigators, lawyers from the Department of Justice, forensic accountants, and customs officers from the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency.

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OBJECTIVE

The objectives of the Proceeds of Crime program are:

removing the incentive from committing crime
identifying, assessing, restraining, and forfeiting illicit and unreported wealth accumulated through criminal activities
prosecuting offenders
restraining and seizing assets pending judicial forfeiture
identifying to the courts assets which could not be seized to justify judicial penalties.

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TASKS

1. Investigations

conducting investigations relative to the laundering of proceeds derived from designated offenses
respond to requests for investigative assistance from foreign and domestic police agencies
foster international cooperation in the area of money laundering
investigations

2. Prevention

Field units carry out community policing and crime prevention initiatives by:

making presentations to the financial and business communities, government departments and agencies and the general public
distributing pamphlets and related material
promoting strategies developed locally or by POC Branch
liaising with other police departments and agencies to identify criminal trends and activities relating to the Proceeds of Crime Program

3. Training

Investigators entering the Proceeds of Crime Program receive the basic POC course. A background in accounting and experience with major case management are essential for a proceeds of crime investigator.

4. Policy Development/Implementation

iIdentifying areas of legislative weakness and seeking statute amendments through the Department of Justice
developing and publishing Force policy
conducting program evaluations

5. Organization for Delivery

Proceeds of Crime Branch is located in Ottawa at Headquarters, and is responsible for policy development, program planning, program monitoring, and resource allocation.

6. Relationship with Activity Structure

Program - Law Enforcement
Activity - Operations
Sub/Activity - Federal and International Operations
Sub/Sub/Activity - Proceeds of Crime

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OUTCOME - How does Proceeds of Crime Program affect your community?

Proceeds of Crime program takes money away from criminals and puts it back into Canadian communities through drug awareness and crime prevention initiatives.

The RCMP has enjoyed considerable success since Proceeds of Crime legislation was first passed in 1989. The value of attacking the assets of a criminal organization was demonstrated in BC by a five-year project which concluded in 1997. In addition to charging four persons and six corporations, over $17 million in assets were seized by police and eventually forfeited, including:

an ocean going freighter
8 luxury homes worth $1-2 million each
6 tugboats
$800,000 in lottery tickets
$1 million in cash, jewellery, etc.

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