This is the cached copy of http://www.gov.ns.ca/just/publications/documents/CISNSAnnualReport.pdf.
Untitled
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Message from
the Minister
It is with great pride that I
introduce the 2006 Criminal
Intelligence Service Nova Scotia
Annual Report (CISNS). I want
to congratulate CISNS on the
completion of their first public
report. This collaborative
organization has become a
leader in gathering and sharing
intelligence on organized crime
and other serious crime, helping
to make our province a safer
place.
This report provides an insight into organized and serious
crime within Nova Scotia. It identifies both the importance
and benefits of information sharing among law enforcement
agencies across Nova Scotia, as well as the role of all Nova
Scotians as active participants in the fight against crime.
Effective and timely sharing of criminal intelligence is a
crucial factor in the ability to detect, disrupt and dismantle
criminal organizations.
Organized crime affects us all. We may feel its impact
through illicit drug use in our communities, counterfeit
products in the marketplace or defrauding the public. The
world is changing, and while we are very fortunate in
Nova Scotia, we are not immune to the pervasiveness or
sophistication of organized crime. Because of our strategic
coastal location we must do all we can to ensure that Nova
Scotia is an active partner in the national and international
fight against organized crime.
The nature of organized crime has changed. Criminals
have become more sophisticated and crime is more
technologically advanced. To combat this, Nova Scotia’s
law enforcement community is working together in a
concerted effort to identify and attack organized and
serious crime in our communities across the province.
Focused information sharing among police agencies helps
close the intelligence gaps on organized crime groups and
other serious crime. By working together we can ensure
that Nova Scotia is a strong link in the fight against these
forces, and that communities large and small across our
province do not fall victim to organized crime.
Murray Scott, M.B.
Minister of Justice
Page 4
Nova Scotia is well known
for our high quality of life.
But that quality of life is
threatened every day by the
effects of organized crime.
Organized crime affects our
wallet, as we pay higher
insurance and other fees to
cover losses that are attributable to organized crime
activity. Additional taxes are required for policing and
social programs. Our sense of personal security is also
at risk, as we feel less safe in our own homes.
Law enforcement agencies across the province are
working hard every day to decrease the harm caused
by organized crime. A crucial part of that job is
compiling and sharing information and intelligence.
Criminal Intelligence Service Nova Scotia (CISNS)
is a proven leader in this field. With a mandate to
ensure the timely collection of information and
the production and exchange of useful intelligence
products on organized and serious crime in Nova
Scotia, they play a critical role in intelligence-led
policing in the province.
Combating organized crime is not a battle anyone can
win on their own. We need to work together, build
partnerships and share resources and information.
It requires the input and cooperation of all law
enforcement agencies, every level of government and
of ordinary citizens.
Much like it takes a village to raise a child, so too will
it take our whole community to stop the violence,
illicit drug trafficking, street gangs, and the other
organized crimes that threaten our way of life.
This document, CISNS’s first public report, is
an excellent snapshot of their work in criminal
intelligence. It outlines the most serious threats in our
province and illustrates the commitment of CISNS and
their partner agencies to working together to combat
the organized and serious crimes that have the most
significant impact on our lives.
Ian Atkins, O.O.M.
Assistant Commissioner RCMP “H” Division
Chair of CISNS Executive Committee
Message from
the Chair
Page 5
1
About CISNS ..........................................................................2
Organized and Serious Crime in Nova Scotia .................4
Elements of Organized Crime
Exploitation of International Borders...............................6
Exploitation of Legitimate Economic Community ........6
Violence and Intimidation .................................................7
Technology and Crime .......................................................7
Criminal Markets
Street Gangs.........................................................................8
Illicit Drugs ........................................................................10
Sexual Exploitation of Children......................................12
Firearms..............................................................................13
Tobacco ...............................................................................14
Motor Vehicle Crimes.......................................................16
Counterfeit Goods.............................................................18
Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs...............................................20
Financial Crimes................................................................22
Human Beings as a Commodity.....................................24
Table of Contents
Page 6
2
About CISNS
Criminal Intelligence Service Nova Scotia (CISNS) is a
partnership of policing agencies, responsible for
collecting, collating, sharing, analyzing and producing
timely information and intelligence on organized and
other serious crime in Nova Scotia.
It is one of 10 provincial bureaus of Criminal Intelligence
Service Canada (CISC), which serves as a national
network and the voice of the Canadian criminal
intelligence community.
In 2005, CISNS received funding from the Province of
Nova Scotia, allowing the bureau to expand its resources.
The staff, originally seven people, was increased to 26,
including two data entry clerks, three new analysts, a
communications strategist and 13 law enforcement
officers assigned as Local Intelligence Officers (LIOs). One
LIO represents Provincial Corrections and is located in
Halifax. The other LIOs are located in offices
throughout the province, with two LIOs in each
of the six district offices indicated on the
map below.
Valley-Western Shore
Cumberland
South Shore
Page 7
Cumberland
re
Truro
Northeast Mainland
Cape Breton
With this increase in funding and staff, CISNS is
now in a position to be a leader in gathering and
sharing intelligence on organized and other serious
crime in Nova Scotia. Working with our member
agencies, we can close intelligence gaps, share
up-to-date intelligence, profile existing organized
crime groups and their members, identify new
groups and clarify emerging trends.
Together we will combat organized and other
serious crime in Nova Scotia.
3
Page 8
Organized & Serious Crime in Nova Scotia
Organized crime doesn’t only happen on TV. It happens in
Nova Scotia. It probably happens in your community. And it
affects your life every day.
It affects your health and safety, your annual income and your
taxes. It also affects your electricity bill, your car and home
insurance and your credit card payment.
CISNS and our many partners, including the RCMP,
municipal police agencies and other government departments,
are dedicated to working together to combat organized crime
groups and to minimize their influence on communities in
Nova Scotia.
Organized Crime Groups
In 2006, CISNS prepared a Provincial Threat Assessment that
identified organized crime groups operating in Nova Scotia.
These groups vary from three members to having more than 20
identified members. The majority are involved with the illicit
drug trade. This includes indoor and outdoor marihuana grow
operations, as well as importing, trading and selling marihuana,
cocaine and other illegal drugs.
Other criminal activities common to many of the identified
groups are trafficking of illegal prescription drugs, contraband
tobacco and alcohol, thefts and smuggling contraband
products. Street gangs are also a threat in Nova Scotia, with 10
reported gangs operating at varying levels in the province.
Thefts, break and enters, robberies and the movement of stolen
goods are common methods of financially supporting illegal
drug activities for most organized crime groups. Violent
assaults, threats, intimidation and even murder are common
methods of asserting control among the active criminal groups
in the province.
In some areas of the country, the criminal picture implicates high
profile organized crime groups with global links. In contrast,
Nova Scotia’s drug trade includes mainly local independent
trafficking networks. However, there are indications that some
local groups also have links to national and even international
organized crime groups.
In addition to many local marihuana grow operations, there is
also information that organized crime groups in Nova Scotia
receive large quantities of illicit drugs from criminal groups in
other provinces and the United States.
Information also indicates that tobacco products are being
smuggled from the United States and from First Nations
Reserves in Ontario and Quebec.
4
• Health care and taxes are inflated to pay for programs
like drug addiction treatments.
• Identity theft and credit card fraud harm everyone -
banks, merchants and the consumer.
• Extra policing and costs of crimes like money
laundering affect the local economy and are reflected
in your property taxes.
• Power diversion for indoor drug operations inflates
your electricity bill.
• Your car and home insurance bills are increased to
cover you for crimes committed by organized auto
theft rings and property break-ins.
Impacts of Organized Crime
Page 9
va Scotia
5
Not Just An Urban Issue
A significant amount of Nova Scotia’s organized crime takes
place in the Halifax and Cape Breton Regional Municipalities.
As well, many groups travel through or have members living
in the larger city centres.
However, if you think organized crime only happens in big
cities... think again.
Of the organized crime groups listed in the 2006 Provincial
Threat Assessment, more than half are centred outside of the
Halifax area, clearly illustrating that organized crime is not
exclusively a big city phenomenon.
In fact, because they are located in smaller communities, some
of the more minor organized crime groups actually have a
greater impact on the feeling of public safety and quality of
life in their communities.
Although police initiatives have successfully targeted
organized crime groups in the past, crime is an enduring
business and organized crime groups are notoriously fluid.
While a large-scale take down of a criminal group may land
a number of key criminals in prison, there is usually a new
leader willing and able to step in and take over the reins of a
successful crime group.
Some groups even have a form of succession planning so that
operations can continue smoothly while lead members spend
time in jail.
It is also important to recognize that police
do not work alone on these important issues.
CISNS’s other partner agencies include the
Department of Justice, Canada Border
Services Agency, Canada Post Corporation, Department of
Fisheries and Oceans, Environment Canada, Service Canada,
Nova Scotia Natural Resources, Canada Revenue Agency, and
Springhill Preventive Security.
All partners play a vital role in intelligence-led policing and
are an important link for combating organized and serious
crime and improving overall public safety.
Intelligence-led Policing
Every public tip, every traffic stop, every drug bust, every
property seizure, every situation police encounter produces
information. When this information is verified and analyzed, it
becomes criminal intelligence.
Police use criminal intelligence much like puzzle pieces. They
put the pieces together to create a bigger picture. The puzzle
pieces can come from anywhere and anyone can contribute to
the bigger picture.
Intelligence-led policing is based on the idea that we can
better prevent, detect and disrupt organized crime by using
criminal intelligence to guide law enforcement. And in
reverse, that we can use information gained from searches and
arrests as a continuing source of criminal intelligence.
This process relies on the contributions of:
• Citizens providing information to police.
• Police gathering information from the public and at the
front line.
• Analysts converting this information into criminal
intelligence.
• Police at all levels using criminal intelligence to detect
crime and to make decisions that have a direct impact on
the criminal environment.
The intelligence process can start with something as simple
as a routine traffic stop. Say for example, that police stop a
vehicle for speeding. That leads to a vehicle search resulting
in 16 kilograms of marihuana. The driver was also carrying a
cheque from a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang. Further
information could reveal direct ties to organized crime.
What you see, what you find, what you hear are all sources
of intelligence. It may be linked to an investigation in your
community, another area of the province, the country or even
internationally. It might be the key to solving or preventing a
crime. It might even save a life.
According to the Criminal Code of Canada, organized
crime involves three or more people working together to
commit a serious crime and getting some material benefit
from it – money, drugs, influence, or something else in
trade. It does not include people that form randomly for
the commission of a single event.
Organized Crime
Combating Organized Crime
Recognizing these issues, and the impact organized and other
serious crime has on the citizens of Nova Scotia, the provincial
government recently financed the expansion of CISNS. This
investment should have a significant impact on combating
organized and serious crime in the province.
CISNS operates on the philosophy of intelligence-led
policing. This means that all law enforcement agencies share
information and work in partnership to counteract the most
serious violations in the province.
Page 10
10
Elements of Organized Crime
6
illegal tobacco and counterfeit items, as well as illegal
immigration.
The Marine Security Operations Centre (MSOC) was created
in Halifax in 2005 to monitor marine issues. The core partners
of this unit include the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
(RCMP), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Transport
Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the
Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and the Department of National
Defence (DND).
By combining the unique knowledge and skills of these
agencies, MSOC East will be able to make an essential
contribution to the security of Canada.
Security around our borders has become a critical issue since
September 11, 2001. There is no clearer example of the need
for solid and ongoing intelligence dealing with international
ports, airports and land borders.
Global events in the years since 9-11 have shown that better
intelligence collection and sharing leads to a system that is
more capable of combating organized crime and terrorist
groups.
Exploitation of the Legitimate Economic
Community
Criminals often “hide” behind legitimate business. In Nova
Scotia, several legitimate businesses are owned by members
of identified organized crime groups. These businesses use
primarily cash, have a legitimate customer base and operate
like any other organization, except their daily activities also
include laundering illegally obtained money for an organized
crime group.
Criminals may also use legitimate shipping companies for
their side business of smuggling illegal or counterfeit goods
into the province or country.
A variety of fraudulent telemarketing schemes also hurt
legitimate businesses by causing people to lose confidence in
legitimate telephone marketing businesses and charities.
This type of business also means that average, honest citizens
in Nova Scotia may be financing organized crime in the
province without even realizing it.
While all organized crime groups operate differently, they also
share some similarities. Elements that are common to most of
the organized crime groups in Canada include: Exploitation of
International Borders, Exploitation of the Legitimate Economic
Community, Violence and Intimidation, and Technology.
Most of the organized crime groups in the province touch on
at least one of these elements, and many are involved to some
level in all four.
Exploitation of International Borders
Nova Scotia has a vast coastline with thousands of
containerized goods entering Canada through Nova Scotia
every year. In addition to the Port of Halifax, Yarmouth,
Shelburne, Port Hawkesbury and Sydney also operate
ports that handle international cargo. Nova Scotia is also
home to a busy international airport, and inter-provincial
ferry connections from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland,
Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, as well as an
international ferry connection to Maine.
These easy international connections make Nova Scotia a
logical target for cross-border crimes like smuggling drugs,
Page 11
New technologies, for example, allow users
to create, send and receive text messages.
Users can also send images, audio files, and/or video clips
and messages can be sent from one mobile phone to another,
or to any email address.
These technologies are popular with young people, and are
highly profitable for the criminal element.
As technology develops, police must continue to find new
ways to track, trace or otherwise tap into these types of
messages.
According to Interpol, criminal threats related to the use of
technology are quite clear. Individuals can exchange different
kinds of illegal files in many ways. Child sexual abuse images
could be transmitted, the spread of computer viruses is
facilitated, “casing” a location for robbery and various types of
fraud are made much easier.
New technology also adds a higher level of anonymity.
Criminals can use virtually untraceable tools and then discard
them immediately after use.
Violence and Intimidation
Most organized crime groups use violence, or the threat
of violence, as a means of intimidation, asserting control,
status or self protection, or simply as part of their day-to-day
interactions.
The potential for violence is always very near the surface of
the illicit drug trade. In the very competitive drug business,
violence is often used to protect products or territory. In-
fighting and territorial issues can quickly turn violent if one
group is perceived to be infringing on another’s terrain.
Many members of street gangs in Canada are also in
possession of illegal weapons, including semi-automatic
handguns. In general, it is common for street gang members
to resort to firearms-related violence during criminal activities
and in their day-to-day interactions. While these groups are
responsible for relatively low-level criminal activities, their
tendency toward violence in public places makes them a more
direct and immediate risk to public safety.
Technology and Crime
Intelligence shows that criminal groups around the world
are among those benefiting from new technologies. Any
new technology that improves legitimate business efficiency,
can also improve the efficiency and expediency of criminal
activities. And if there is a way of exploiting it, criminals are
finding it.
7
Page 12
8
Criminal Markets
Street Gangs
According to Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC),
more than 300 street gangs have been identified across
Canada, with more than 11,000 gang members and associates.
Most street gang members are between the ages of 20 and 30,
however, some gangs have even younger members.
Members of street gangs in Nova Scotia are predominantly
young adults who identify themselves by wearing certain
articles of clothing, i.e. red t-shirts or bandanas. They start
out bullying other students at school, but eventually graduate
to other youth complaints and serious offences like mischief,
assaults, assaults with weapons, street level robberies, thefts,
auto thefts, firearms and other weapons, and drug trafficking.
Members of some gangs are reported to be involved in
prostitution.
Members of street gangs in Nova Scotia have also been charged
with various offences under the Liquor ControlAct.
In Nova Scotia, many of these groups are spontaneous with
their criminal activity and are not considered truly organized
or profit driven. In fact, the majority of street gangs operate
with low to mid-level criminal capabilities and are not likely
to evolve into more criminally sophisticated organizations.
Some street gangs have direct links to other organized crime
groups. Members of street gangs have historically been used
by other groups to commit crimes, like robberies or vehicle
thefts, on their behalf.
Combating street gangs requires a strong partnership
approach with law enforcement in collaboration with relevant
government departments, the academic community and the
general public.
In January 2006, the seriousness of street gangs hit
home in a small town along Nova Scotia’s South
Shore. Two members of a local street gang were
arrested after seriously assaulting two men.
Part of the fight was videotaped and segments
were placed on a local internet site by the group
claiming responsibility. The video showed several
assailants, all in their late teens and early 20’s,
punching and kicking two men in a violent attack.
The videotape helped police further the
investigation and identify other participants in the
assault. This led to several more arrests.
Reality Check
Page 13
Gang characteristics vary from one community to another. A gang in your community may look and act very differently
from those you see on television or in the movies. While many indicators, viewed separately, are not signs that a youth is
involved in a street gang, viewed together they may indicate gang involvement.
• Associating with a new set of friends while ignoring old friends. They usually will not talk about new friends.
• Change of hair style and/or clothing or associating with other youths who have the same hair style and/or
clothing. Usually some of the clothing, such as a hat or jacket, will have the gang’s initials, and/or the youth’s
"street" name on it.
• Increase in the amount of money they have, without explanation of where it came from. Other possessions
that they could not have bought themselves.
• Indications of drug, alcohol or inhalant abuse. Signs of inhalant abuse will sometimes be paint, "white-out" or
the smell of chemicals on their clothes.
• Change in attitude about things they used to enjoy, like sports, scouts or church.
• Becoming a discipline problem at school, in public, or at home.
• No longer accepting parent’s authority and challenging it frequently.
• Problems at school, such as failing classes, "skipping" school, causing problems in class, or being disrespectful
to teachers.
• Showing fear or disrespect of the police.
• Signs that they have been in a fight, such as cuts and bruises or complaints of pain, but they won't explain
what happened.
• Graffiti on or around their residence, on notebooks or other possessions.
If you suspect someone is involved in street gang activities in Nova Scotia, contact your local police department.
From: www.fortworthpd.com/gang.htm
Indicators of Street Gang Involvement
9
Page 14
Illicit Drugs
In Nova Scotia, like in most provinces, the drug trade is the
main criminal activity affecting our communities. As a result,
drugs and the related activities receive the highest police
attention.
The most prominent illegal drug in Nova Scotia is locally-
grown marihuana. The relative ease of production, high
profit and demand from the local market make marihuana
production a very lucrative industry.
Many marihuana growers purchase large, expensive homes
in both urban and rural locations and convert them into grow
houses. They produce hundreds of plants in each house every
year.
These indoor grow sites are more popular in the Halifax
area; while both indoor and outdoor marihuana grows are
commonplace in rural Nova Scotia.
Cocaine is also prevalent in Nova Scotia. Many organized
crime groups in the province distribute both types of drugs
through their networks. Ecstasy, other designer drugs and
illegal prescription drugs are also distributed to a lesser
degree throughout the province.
There is some indication that Crystal Methamphetamine may
be used in Nova Scotia, although reports are scattered and
there are no currently known Crystal Meth labs.
10
Most of the illegal drug trade in Canada involves
high profile organized crime groups with
international connections. In Nova Scotia, however,
the drug traders are primarily smaller, independent trafficking
networks that operate in specific areas of the province. They
usually obtain their drug supply from major organized crime
groups in British Columbia, Ontario or Quebec.
Organized drug groups operate in several cities as well as
in many smaller communities in the province. South Alton,
Western Shore, Chester, Digby, Annapolis, Halifax, Hants and
Lunenburg counties and Richmond County, Cape Breton all
have some level of marihuana growing activity.
Effects on Society
Local drug traffickers constantly try to increase their customer
base, frequently targeting schools and other youth hangouts.
The drug trade is also a very competitive business. In-fighting
and territorial issues can turn violent if one group is perceived
to be infringing on another’s terrain.
Organized crime groups make a significant profit from our
communities and harm our quality of life. They increase the
exposure to drugs and create a larger threat of violence. Their
activities also cause higher taxes and fees, which are levied to
help recoup money lost to crimes, spent on fighting crime or
used to provide services for addicts or prisons.
Increases in Technology
Some illegal grow operations now have counter surveillance
at their sites. They use security cameras and closed circuit
television monitors, as well as weapons and soft body armour.
There is also an increase in the number of hydroponic
stores in Nova Scotia, with many stores registered in the
province in recent years. While it isn’t illegal to open these
establishments, they attract the criminal element with
merchandise required for the cultivation of marihuana.
Reporting Suspicious Activities
Police find that in many cases, residents are aware of criminal
activity in their community, but are fearful of coming forward
with information. The best way to safely report suspicious
activities is to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or
visit their secure website at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca.
Page 15
• A house has a "not lived in" feel: Many grow operations do not have people living inside them.
• Unusual visitor behaviour: Inconsistencies in visitors to and from the residence, ranging from no visitors, giving
the appearance of seclusion, to frequent visitors for short time periods.
• Covered windows: Covered with white plastic, heavy curtains pressed against the windows or blinds that are
tightly shut & pressed against the windows. These window coverings will never be opened.
• Condensation: Humidity inside a grow room is approximately 65% with temperatures above 30 degrees
Celsius. These conditions cause condensation on windows and walls, which results in mould, mildew and rot.
• Smells & Odours: Skunk-like odour mixed with a sweet vegetative smell or the unique smell of rotting cabbage.
Also, mothballs or fabric softener are frequently used to try to mask the smell of the operation.
• Sounds: The sounds of humming fans can be heard because the air inside the growing rooms needs to be
vented outside. The air may be vented through the chimney, into the attic, or even into the sewer system. In
addition, the sounds of construction late at night could be an indicator.
• Localized power surges: Neighbourhood residences experience unexplained power surges or power “browning”
(decrease of power that dims lights & slows down appliance use) with the return of normal power flow
approximately 12 hours later.
• "Beware of Dog" or "Guard Dog on Duty" signs: Used to deter trespassing, protect against theft and detection by
police.
• Other indicators used as props to deflect any attention by neighbours and police: Outdoor and/or indoor lights,
radio and/or TV on for 24 hours, flyers left in mailbox or on the front steps, children’s toys & bikes outside
without children living or seen at the residence, realty signs posted on front lawn.
From: www.ottawapolice.ca
How to Spot an Indoor Marihuana Grow Operation
Reality Check
East Torbrook Raid Nets 9,000 Pot Plants
Monitor-Examiner
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Annapolis RCMP Make Biggest Marihuana Bust
In Nova Scotia History
It may have been the biggest marihuana bust
in Nova Scotia history and it happened in
Annapolis County.
A September 4 raid on an isolated and secluded
East Torbrook Road property netted RCMP
9,000 pot plants -- several million dollars worth
and enough to fill a tractor-trailer.
Acting on information received from a ‘source,’
heavily armed Annapolis RCMP officers entered
the property Sunday evening, met no resistance,
and made one arrest.
Middleton RCMP Sgt. Gordon Haye said police
were not taking any chances and an RCMP
emergency response team was part of the
takedown. The team consists of highly trained
officers who have expertise in that field.
Note - One man was charged with cultivation of
marihuana and possession for the purposes of
trafficking.
11
Page 16
A child pornography investigation in Dallas, Texas in 1999
revealed that thousands of Canadians were purchasing
child pornography from a particular distributor using their
credit cards. Operation SNOWBALL is a national project
that was initiated to investigate these Canadian files.
Project HORIZON investigates Nova Scotian suspects from
Operation SNOWBALL as well as other subsequent
investigations. In 2005, 14 people were convicted and five
others charged in connection with this project.
This type of file is currently handled by either a provincial
RCMP team or the Internet Child Exploitation Unit, which
is a proactive investigative team made up of members from
the Halifax Regional Police and the RCMP.
Reality Check
No current intelligence indicates organized crime
involvement in sexual exploitation of children or internet
child pornography in Nova Scotia. However, this is a serious
enough crime to fall under the mandate of CISNS.
Generally, sexual exploitation of children includes child
pornography, child prostitution, child sex tourism, and
trafficking for sexual purposes.
Internationally, organized crime groups are involved in
the production and dissemination of child pornography as
a growing, profitable illicit market. Experts estimate that
globally, child pornography garners approximately $24 billion
Canadian in annual profits.
Technology has made it much easier to exploit children. While
websites are the most common vehicle to participate in this
crime, peer to peer sites, internet newsgroups and chat rooms
are now being used to provide quick and free access to images
previously obtainable only from websites.
In addition, cell phones, PDAs and portable MP3 players are
now being used to download and transfer images and videos.
These are much more difficult for law enforcement to trace.
Children need to play and learn in an environment where they are safe and secure. The safety of children rests
primarily with the parent or care giver. Additionally, preparing for an unsafe world comes after the child feels secure in
their home-school-play environment. This security can be accomplished by strengthening the child’s personal power.
Encourage children to make choices and decisions daily and engage in regular family discussions. Effective ‘street
proofing’ begins at home.
Street safe kids should know:
• Their last name, address and telephone number ‘by heart’ and their parents’ place of work and contact numbers.
• How to dial 911 in an emergency situation.
• To always ask mom, dad or care giver for permission to go anywhere to play or join an activity.
• To always walk, play and bike in a group or with a ‘buddy’.
• To visit the ‘safe houses’ in your neighbourhood.
• That if someone they do not know well approaches them and asks their name, where they live or for their help,
they should NOT ANSWER, keep a safe distance and quickly RUN AWAY.
• If someone grabs or holds them, scream loudly, squirm and kick.
• Never to accept a ride in a car with someone they don’t know.
• Your family secret code word. In an emergency, they should only go with someone who knows this code.
• To say ‘No’ to adults who ask them to do something for them, like find a pet, accept a gift, join them for an activity
or give them directions.
• To never share their computer password with anyone else or give personal information and photos over the internet
to friends.
• To ask for permission to meet a friend they have talked to on the internet.
• To trust their instincts.
From: www.ourmissingchildren.gc.ca
Child Safety Tips
Due to the sheer volume of work involved, police in
Nova Scotia do not have the capacity to examine linkages
between suspects and other groups. The workload of those
investigating this type of file will continue to become more
complex as sexual predators find more advanced technologies
to carry out their activities.
Sexual Exploitation of Children
Firearms
12
Page 17
How to Legally Own
a Firearm in Canada
Canada’s strict firearm controls and regulations are, in
general, very effective in preventing organized crime groups
from legally acquiring firearms.
That’s not to say the controls are 100% successful at keeping
guns out of the hands of criminals. It simply means Canadian
criminals must find illegal ways to acquire their weapons,
creating a substantial and profitable national trade in illicit
firearms.
The two main sources of illicit firearms in Canada are local
thefts and smuggling across the American border.
Individual criminals and members of organized crime groups
seek illegal weapons either to sell for profit or to commit other
crimes. Guns also provide criminals with self protection, a
demonstration of status, a means of intimidation or a way to
inflict violence on their criminal rivals, the law enforcement
community and other citizens.
Intelligence shows that most organized crime groups trade in
illicit firearms to one extent or another, even if it is only as an
end consumer.
Groups that are active in the illegal drug trade are often also
very active in the trade of stolen or illegal firearms. The
potential for violence is always very near the surface of
the illicit drug trade, creating a stronger demand for illicit
firearms.
Many members of street gangs in Canada are also in
possession of illicit firearms, particularly semi-automatic
handguns. In general, it is common for street gang members
to resort to firearms-related violence during criminal activities
and in their day-to-day interactions. As a result, they tend
to present a more direct and immediate risk to public safety,
despite their relatively low-level criminal activities.
In Atlantic Canada, the number of weapons being smuggled
across the border is on the rise. According to the National
Weapons Enforcement Support Team (NWEST), there was an
upswing in the number of firearms illegally entering Atlantic
Canada in 2005.
Reality Check
Firearms
• All firearms must have a valid Canadian
registration certificate.
• To register a firearm, an applicant must be at least
18 years old and have a valid firearms license
allowing them to possess that class of firearm.
• Owners of restricted and prohibited firearms that
were registered in the former Restricted Weapons
Registration System (RWRS) were required to
re-register their firearms by January 1, 2003, to
update the information and link it to their license.
• A registration certificate issued under the Firearms
Act does not have to be renewed unless the firearm
is modified in a way that changes its class.
• When a firearm changes ownership, it will be
registered to the new owner as part of the transfer
process.
• When someone borrows a firearm, they must also
borrow the registration certificate for that firearm.
For more information, please contact: Chief Firearms
Officer, Provincial Firearms Office, Department of Justice
at (902) 424-6689 or 1-800-731-4000 ext. 6505.
From: RCMP Canada Firearms Centre
(www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca)
The National Weapons Enforcement Support Team (NWEST) is an
integral firearms/weapons investigative support component of the essential
services provided by the RCMP’s National Police Services to the law
enforcement community.
NWEST is dedicated to public safety and assists front line police agencies
in gathering evidence to successfully prosecute persons or organizations
involved in the illegal movement and criminal use of firearms.
NWEST was created in January 2001 by the Federal Department of Justice
and transferred to the RCMP’s National Police Services in April of 2003.
From: www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/html/nwest_e.htm
13
Page 18
Selling illegal tobacco may seem like a relatively harmless
crime. After all, it’s only shorting the government some tax
dollars, and we all pay enough tax, right?
In reality, the effects are much broader, and very serious.
Intelligence indicates a clear link between illegal tobacco
sales and organized crime in the province. Criminals use the
profits of these sales to finance drug
trafficking in
Canada, purchase illegal weapons,
finance
criminal groups and promote
violence.
Investigators have identified more than 10 groups or
individuals throughout Nova Scotia who are actively involved
in the smuggling and sale of contraband tobacco. Groups in
Halifax and Sydney are suspected of making frequent trips
to First Nations Reserves in Ontario and/or Quebec to obtain
tobacco to sell locally.
The Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) has also
identified people smuggling illegal tobacco from the United
States for sale in Canada.
It is believed that groups are transporting illegal tobacco
across provincial and national borders through the delivery of
legitimate cargo.
Several laws (the Excise Act, 2001, the Customs Act, and the
Revenue Act) govern the sale of tobacco products. Under these
federal and provincial laws, there are serious consequences for
dealing in illegal tobacco products.
Under the Excise Act, 2001 offenders are liable to a prison term
of up to 5 years and fines of more than $100,000. Under the
Revenue Act, offenders could receive large fines and prison
terms of up to 18 months.
Effects on Society
The sale of illegal tobacco products:
•prevents businesses from carrying out their activities in
a climate of fair competition;
•increases the tax burden for all taxpayers, as we
cover the lost revenue through increases in
income tax;
• erodes our social climate and minimizes the
seriousness of this type of crime;
• encourages young people to smoke, as
cigarettes are available at low cost and the
sales are not regulated.
From: The Consequences of Selling Illegal
Tobacco Products – RCMP Customs and
Excise Section
Tobacco
14
Page 19
15
• Tobacco products require the proper stamps and tear strips. Each province has different
colours. Nova Scotia's colour is purple. Tobacco products with a different colour are likely illegal.
• All tobacco products, cigarettes or cigars, should have a written stamp that says
"Canada droit acquitte - Duty Paid."
• Contraband products may not have Health Canada warnings on the package.
• They may have poor quality packaging and might have misspellings on the packages.
• Some tobacco products are marked as “export only”. Export only tobacco cannot legally be
sold in Canada.
• Tobacco smuggled into Canada from the United States comes in larger packages with all
English writing, and the weight is indicated in ounces not grams.
• Be wary of tobacco products that are:
• sold by a travelling salesperson
• sold in a parking lot
• given to you free of charge by a supplier
• sold on an Internet posting for tax-free tobacco products.
• In all of these situations, the tobacco products are probably counterfeit, contraband or
manufactured illegally.
By purchasing or trading these products, you may be helping finance organized crime in the province
and across the country.
From: RCMP Customs & Excise
How to Identify Illegal Tobacco Products
Reality Check
Through several investigations in 2005, the RCMP
Customs and Excise office in Sydney seized
56,400 grams of illegal tobacco, 765,246 illegal
cigarettes, $9,295.25 in cash, 354.8 grams
of cocaine, 2 kg of cut cocaine, 1 prohibited
weapon, 1 restricted weapon, 1 shotgun and
ammunition, 2 vehicles, and paraphernalia for
drug trafficking. This led to 27 arrests
.
Page 20
Organized crime groups are becoming increasingly involved
in motor vehicle theft in Canada. Locally, there are organized
crime groups in Nova Scotia that have direct involvement in
this type of criminal activity.
Vehicle theft is generally associated with young offenders.
According to a Statistics Canada report, 40% of people charged
with this crime in Canada in 2002, were between the ages
of 12 and 17, which is higher than the proportion of youth
charged with any other major crime. However, it is difficult
to be precise concerning vehicle theft due to discrepancies in
reporting.
While the highest rates of total vehicle theft are found in the
western provinces, most of these vehicles are taken for
“joy-rides” and are later recovered.
According to the same report, stolen vehicles that are not
recovered are often stolen by organized crime groups for
export overseas, inter-provincial resale or to be stripped for
parts. Halifax is second only to Montreal with the lowest
recovery rates in Canada.
Organized crime groups involved in motor vehicle theft also
tend to be involved in other criminal enterprises. Driving a
stolen vehicle provides criminals with transportation that is
usually not traceable back to them. The profits from these
thefts contribute significantly to the financing, expansion and
strength of a group’s capacities.
Beginning in Fall 2006, CISNS is conducting a provincial
analysis of auto theft. This study will help to more clearly
identify the issues surrounding stolen vehicles in Nova Scotia.
Effects on Society
Vehicle theft is often a stepping stone to other crimes. Stolen
vehicles are used to commit robberies, frauds, break and
enters, etc. In fact, a recent Swedish study suggests that
organized crime groups may use motor vehicle theft as a
recruitment tool.
The study examined which first offences seemed to indicate
an individual had a higher risk of becoming a career
criminal. The results showed that young people who were
first convicted of motor vehicle theft were the most likely to
continue a life of crime.
From: www.statcan.ca
Motor Vehicle Crimes
16
Page 21
•
Vehicles not protected with anti-theft devices.
•
Particular makes and models.
•
High volume parking area with easy entry and exit.
•
Vehicles parked in poorly lit locations away from
public view.
•
Keys in the vehicle ignition or in plain view inside
the vehicle.
•
Vehicles left unlocked and/or windows open.
•
Valuables left in plain view inside your vehicle.
•
Vehicles left running.
From: www.winnipeg.ca/police/TakeAction/auto_theft.stm
What a Car Thief Looks For
When the Provincial Auto Theft section of the RCMP reviewed
vehicle thefts in Nova Scotia, they discovered a disturbing trend
in the number of vehicles stolen either because the keys were left
inside or because they were left running while unoccupied.
Studies show that youths have been stealing vehicles and turning
it into a game – seeing who can steal the most vehicles in one
night, or who can steal the nicest vehicle. Often these vehicles
are taken to school to show off to friends.
Everyone has a role to play in preventing this kind of theft from
happening. Roll up your windows. Lock your doors. Never
leave your keys in your car, even if you think they are well
hidden. An experienced thief knows where to look.
17
Reality Check
Page 22
Counterfeit Goods
18
Producing, distributing and selling counterfeit goods, some-
times called intellectual property crime, is too often seen as a
‘forgivable’ crime. After all, it seems, no one is really getting
hurt except big companies – and they can afford to lose a few
dollars, right?
In reality, intelligence shows that internationally, counterfeit
products are often directly linked to organized crime. So, by
purchasing counterfeit goods, you could be helping to finance
organized and other serious crime in your own community.
In the past, Canada’s counterfeit goods trade seemed to have
been somewhat confined to flea markets and small retail
outlets dealing with clothing, software, music and other
similar merchandise.
According to the RCMP, however, there was a dramatic
increase in the number, variety and sophistication of
counterfeit products being sold in Canada in 2005. It is
becoming more common for counterfeit products like
pharmaceuticals, batteries, food and liquor to be sold across
the country. Nova Scotia is no exception.
Piracy
Piracy involves copying and/or distributing copyrighted
software illegally. Even the possession of software that has
been illegally copied is considered piracy. Becoming familiar
with the different types of piracy can protect you from any
connection, even if it’s unintentional, to intellectual property
theft.
Many ordinary citizens are guilty of two common types of
piracy: copying videotapes, CDs, or DVDs; and copying
computer software. These might not seem like serious crimes,
but they can have rippling negative effects.
If you make a copy of a CD for example, everyone who helped
create it will lose money from royalties. The company that
sold you the CD then has to raise the price to counter those
losses. The higher price could mean fewer people will buy the
original, which sends the price up once again.
Effects on Society
Purchasing a counterfeit product hurts the local legitimate
economy with lost jobs and lost revenue. Instead, your
purchase might be funding an organized crime or terrorist group.
Counterfeiters spend no money on research and develop-
ment, marketing, taxes or quality control. This means they
can charge bargain prices. However, it also means there is
no guarantee that the product would meet even the lowest
of safety requirements. Counterfeiters are selling items like
faulty electrical devices, children’s clothes that could catch fire
and pharmaceuticals with no active ingredients.
If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Consumers
should report suspected pirated or counterfeit goods to the
police or to the company with the product rights.
From: www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/fio/intellectual_e.htm
Page 23
How can I ensure that the product I’m buying is not counterfeit?
Some indicators to watch for include much lower prices than average, spelling mistakes on the
product or packaging, products being sold individually that are normally sold in packages, shoddy
appearance of the product or package, or products (particularly electrical products) that have no
name brand. In addition, if you buy products from a reputable retailer, there’s less chance they
will be counterfeit.
What should I do if I suspect that I’ve purchased a counterfeit product?
As a first step, you should check on the internet to determine if Health Canada or the manufacturer
has issued any warnings about the product. Sometimes, however, the retailer is aware that the
product is counterfeit and may even tell you you’ve bought a “knock off” or words to that effect.
I have a friend who downloads music from the internet. Is he breaking the law?
Downloading music for personal use is currently not a criminal offence in Canada. However, this legislation
is constantly being challenged and it would be wise to check often to ensure that the laws
concerning this practice have not changed.
From: www.rcmp.ca/fio/intellectual_e.htm
Halifax man arrested in counterfeit clothing case
Thursday, January 12, 2006
A man from Halifax has been arrested after $1-million
worth of fake designer clothing was seized from a three-
tonne truck.
Daniel Boyd, 32, was picked up Wednesday in what
police are calling the biggest seizure of its kind in Nova
Scotia.
The truck was filled with knock-offs of various brands of
designer handbags, winter coats and jeans, with Diesel,
Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Nike and Lacoste labels.
They were brought in from China and India through the
port of Halifax, police said.
They added that the goods have been sold since 2002
through websites such as Big Box and Idea Store. Prices
for the knock-offs on the sites were going for a much lower
cost than real designer labels.
Selling fake products can result in criminal charges as well
as charges under the Copyright Act and Customs Act. A
conviction under copyright law could result in a $1-million
fine and five years in prison.
Lorne Lipkus, a lawyer in Toronto who deals in anti-
counterfeiting cases, says Canada’s laws on fake products
are too lax, and that the sale of fake products costs local
industries profits and jobs.
He says U.S. customs workers are permitted to seize
and destroy counterfeit goods, while Canadian customs
officials have to call police.
From: www.cbc.ca
Avoiding Counterfeit Goods
Reality Check
19
Page 24
20
Outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) remain a serious criminal
threat in Canada. They are involved in a wide range of
criminal activities including murder, drug trafficking,
prostitution, illegal gambling, extortion, intimidation, fraud
and theft.
The Hells Angels, Outlaws and Bandidos are the three most
influential OMGs in Canada and have attracted significant
police attention.
The Hells Angels are the most powerful outlaw motorcycle
gang, with more than 30 chapters across the country. They are
international in scope with over 200 chapters worldwide and
an international membership exceeding 3,000.
Within the last two years, successful law enforcement actions
have reduced the degree of criminal influence exerted by
the Hells Angels in Central and Atlantic Canada. However,
despite organizational difficulty in these regions, the Hells
Angels continue to attempt to operate and increase their
sphere of influence.
Nova Scotia has been without a formal chapter of the Hells
Angels or any other outlaw motorcycle gang for a number
of years. Several Hells Angels members in Nova Scotia were
sent to prison on various charges and their clubhouse was
seized in 2001.
However, that is not to say the province is without an OMG
presence. There is one full-patch member of the Hells Angels
living in Nova Scotia and there have been periodic reports of
other Hells Angels paying visits to various drug traffickers in
the province over the past few years.
Police expect the future opening of a Hells Angels club in the
province, but details of when, where, chapter affiliations and
membership are unclear.
Most outlaw motorcycle gangs are sophisticated, organized,
financed and well armed. Some operate only at a local level,
while others have affiliate chapters internationally.
They are governed by a complex hierarchy and have strict
rules about their conduct, including the order they ride in and
who can wear their colours or patches.
They often associate with members of other criminal
organizations. Traditionally, “puppet clubs” and some street
gangs gather information or provide security for them. These
associates may also commit crimes for them, providing a layer
of protection between the gang members and the police.
Outlaw motorcycle gangs have always been associated with
drugs. They are often involved in hydroponic and outdoor
grows, as well as trafficking in marihuana and cocaine. They
are also frequently linked to prostitutes and may have ties to
local strip clubs.
It is important to keep in mind that the vast majority of bike
enthusiasts are not involved with an outlaw motorcycle gang
and there is absolutely nothing illegal about being a social
biker.
‘One Percenters’
In the 1960s, the American Motorcyclist Association said that
99 per cent of the people who ride motorcycles and belong to
motorcycle clubs are law-abiding citizens.
The other one per cent, they said, were hard-riding, hard-
partying, non-mainstream people. The term stuck and today
law-enforcement officials refer to members of criminal or
outlaw motorcycle gangs as “one percenters”.
Some bikers literally wear the claim with pride. In addition
to their familiar three-piece patch, the Hells Angels wear a 1%
patch on their clothing to distinguish them from law-abiding
bike enthusiasts.
Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs
Page 25
Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC)
operates the Outlaw Biker Hotline. This
service allows callers to anonymously report
Outlaw Motorcycle Gang activity. The toll-
free number is 1-877-660-4321.
In Nova Scotia, a biker unit, made up of
members of the RCMP and Halifax Regional
Police, is part of the Combined Forces
Intelligence Unit (CFIU). The biker unit
monitors the effects and influence of outlaw
motorcycle gangs in the province.
Reality Check
Biker Clubs in Nova Scotia
There are a wide variety of biker clubs in Nova Scotia that are
not connected in any way to outlaw motorcycle gangs.
However, there are two recognized motorcycle clubs in Nova
Scotia that are associates or ‘friend’ clubs of the Hells Angels.
Members of these clubs associate openly with members of
the Hells Angels and other biker groups by participating in
various biker runs and events.
21
• They have an organized hierarchical
structure.
• They wear their colours, logos and patches
in public.
• They use violence, weapons and intimidation
to further their goals.
• The leaders flaunt their powerful image to
attract new recruits.
• Generally, new recruits commit crimes as
directed by higher up members, who then
collect the profits.
Common Features of Outlaw
Motorcycle Gangs
Page 26
22
High-tech scams are not exclusive to large
cities. In December 2005, Kings County RCMP
laid 52 charges against an Ontario man in
a debit card skimming scam in a New Minas
mall.
When customers making purchases with their
debit card at a t-shirt kiosk in the mall swiped
their card through a debit machine, their
bank card number and personal identification
number were recorded. Neither shoppers, nor
local employees at the kiosk were aware of
the scam.
Police began investigating after several people
complained about unauthorized withdrawals
from their bank accounts.
Reality Check
Financial Crimes are becoming more prevalent in Nova Scotia.
The passing of counterfeit currency is always a concern to law
enforcement, however, as technology evolves, criminals are
developing new expertise and their activities are becoming
even more costly to the general public.
Investigators across the province have seen many recent cases
of fraudulent credit cards, bank skimming, “phishing” and
identity theft.
Bank Card Skimming
Card skimming crimes are most common in places like gas
stations, movie theatres and instant teller machines. Devices
are placed on cash registers or bank machine card slots
that can record not only card information but also personal
identification numbers.
Phishing
With “phishing”, people receive
e-mails from what appears to be
their bank. The email will often
inform them that their account has
been suspended. They are asked
to log onto a website and provide
personal and financial information,
including their client card number
and password.
Police and financial institutions
have made attempts to educate the
public that financial institutions do
not request this type of information
over the internet.
Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone’s personal information
is used to commit fraud. With your social insurance number
and date of birth, an identity thief can take over your bank
accounts or open new ones, transfer balances and apply for
loans or credit in your name. Victims are often not aware they
are being defrauded until weeks or months after the fact.
While there have been incidents of local individuals or groups
participating in these types of activities, it appears many are
initiated from outside the province. It is difficult to determine
why criminal groups from central Canada find Atlantic
Canada attractive as a base for committing their crimes. It may
be due to law enforcement actions in their own province or
because residents in this region have less exposure or are less
wary of fraudulent scams.
It is also more difficult for investigators to track this type of
crime, when the perpetrator is not a permanent resident of the
province.
Financial Crimes
Page 27
• Do not respond to emails asking for any personal or financial
information.
Legitimate companies will never ask you to verify or provide any
confidential information in an unsolicited email.
• Be cautious when clicking on links within a suspicious email.
Most phishing emails contain a link that leads to an official-looking web
page that requires the recipient to log in or enter some personal
information. Though the web page may contain official logos and look
exactly the same as the legitimate company’s web site, any information
submitted via these spoofed web pages will be sent to the perpetrators
of the scam.
If you have any doubt regarding the authenticity of a web site you have
been directed to in an email, open a new browser and type the known
URL of the company in the browser yourself, or call the company directly
via telephone.
• Never log in or enter private information in a pop-up window.
Clicking on links within phishing emails may direct your browser to a
legitimate web site while, at the same time, opening another pop-up
window wherein you are asked to enter your information. This makes it
appear like the pop-up window is part of the legitimate site when, in
reality, it is not.
• Be alert for suspicious emails.
It is easy to forge an email and make it appear like a legitimate company
sent it. When dealing with emails that pertain to information that is
sensitive in nature, it is best to err on the side of caution. Below are a few
signs indicative of phishing emails:
• Urgent account notifications that are not addressed to you personally
but which require action on your part relating to your account(s).
• Customer notifications that contain incorrect spelling or poor grammar.
• Account/billing email notifications from credit card firms or other
financial institutions that do not reference the last few digits of your
account number, or that contain no specific details pertaining to your
account/billing information or activity.
• Account notifications that are delivered to a Bulk Mail folder.
If you receive an email asking for any personal information - Report it.
From http://antispam.yahoo.com/faqs
How to Avoid “Phishing” Scams
23
Page 28
Trafficking in Persons
According to the United Nations and the Criminal
Code of Canada, trafficking in persons refers to the
recruitment, transportation, harbouring or receipt of
people. This could be by the threat or use of force,
coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power
or vulnerability, or by giving payments or benefits to a
person in control of the victim.
Globally, people are trafficked for many reasons
including prostitution, sexual exploitation, forced
labour, slavery or similar practices, and the removal of
organs.
In Canada, someone found guilty of trafficking in
persons could be sent to prison for life.
Prostitution
Prostitution has long been a historical fact of life in
Nova Scotia, with the majority of streetwalkers, escort
services, call girl services and bawdy house operations
centred in Halifax Regional Municipality.
The people who control the prostitutes’ activities
(pimps/johns) often move or exchange women
through a variety of locations in Quebec, Ontario and
New Brunswick.
Human Smuggling
As an international port city, Halifax is also a key
location for the smuggling of illegal immigrants into
Canada.
Migrant smuggling is not the same as trafficking in
persons. Smuggled migrants are usually free once they
arrive at their destination; trafficking victims are not.
However, smuggling is still considered using human
beings as a commodity because the perpetrators are
benefiting financially from the illegal transportation of
people.
Human smugglers use private vessels, container ships
and even cruise ships to smuggle foreign nationals
into Canada. Enforcement in this area requires strong
partnerships with enforcement agencies including
the Canada Border Services Agency, the RCMP and
municipal police agencies.
Human Beings as a
Commodity
24
Page 29
In 2005, the Halifax Regional Police Integrated Vice Unit
investigated a total of 113 prostitution-related files. The unit
charged 70 people for communicating for the purpose of
prostitution. Of this number 37 were female (prostitutes) and 33
were male (johns).
A group located in Asia appears to be responsible for the
recent smuggling of immigrants into Canada. They travel via
cruise ship, using false documentation and disembark at the Port
of Halifax.
In 2005, authorities reported two separate incidents of foreign
nationals posing as tourists on cruise ships docked in Halifax. In
one incident, the four individuals were intercepted. In the other,
17 individuals managed to board a train for Toronto and escape
prosecution.
These individuals would be charged with illegally entering
Canada, not human smuggling. It is the organizers and those
assisting their passage who could be charged with smuggling
human beings.
As they are considered serious crimes with substantial profit for
the perpetrators, CISNS will continue to monitor these issues.
Reality Check
Unlike with trafficking any other product, enforcing the laws
against using human beings as a commodity involves the
added, complicating element of consent. If the victim gives or
implies their consent, has a crime really been committed?
Say, for example, an organized crime group was encouraging
young local girls to engage in exotic dancing, which was
eventually leading them into prostitution. Whether for reasons
of acceptance and belonging, or the lure of money, these girls
consent to their part in these activities, at least initially.
Would the people who are pressuring them into these actions
be committing a crime?
According to the United Nations and Canadian law, the
answer is yes. The United Nations’ Trafficking in Persons
Protocol establishes that the consent of the victim is irrelevant
where the use of illicit means is established.
The Issue of Consent
25
Page 30
Acknowledgements
As criminals are becoming more proficient with
technology and more mobile, crossing county lines,
provincial and even international borders, police
agencies must follow suit to monitor, analyze and put a
stop to their activities.
Sharing information among law enforcement agencies,
government departments and other resources is a critical
step in combating organized crime.
In addition to CISC, CISNS and RCMP intelligence
documents, a wide variety of public “open source”
resources were used in preparing this report. CISNS
would like to thank each of the following organizations
for their contribution.
Many of the following public websites have additional
information about the topics covered in this report.
Canada Firearms Centre
www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
www.cbc.ca
www.cbc.ca/news/background/bikergangs
Canadian Anti-Counterfeiting Network
www.cacn.ca
Canada’s Copyright Laws
www.cyberessays.com/Politics/6.htm
Criminal Intelligence Service Canada
www.cisc.gc.ca
Department of Justice Canada
http://canada.justice.gc.ca/en/fs/ht/index.html
Edmonton Police
www.police.edmonton.ab.ca
Fort Worth Police Department
www.fortworthpd.com/gang.htm
National Missing Children Service
www.ourmissingchildren.gc.ca
Ottawa Police
www.ottawapolice.ca/en/resources/safety_prevention_
tips/grow_operations.cfm
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
ww2.psepc-sppcc.gc.ca/policing/organized_crime/
FactSheets/omg_e.asp
RevenuQuébec-TheConsequencesofIllegalTobaccoProducts
www.revenu.gouv.qc.ca/eng/ministere/evasion_fiscale/
t_campagne.asp
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca
www.rcmp.ca/crimint/copyright_piracy_e.htm
www.rcmp.ca/fio/intellectual_e.htm
www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/html/nwest_e.htm
www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/fio/ipr/counterfeit_report/index_
e.htm
www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/qc/infos_gen/publications/tabac/
table_e.htm
Statistics Canada
www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/85-563-XIE/85-563-
XIE2004001.htm
Winnipeg Police
www.winnipeg.ca/police/TakeAction/auto_theft.stm
Yahoo! Anti-Spam Resource Center
http://antispam.yahoo.com/faqs
26
Page 31
This public report was prepared by
Criminal Intelligence Service Nova Scotia (CISNS)
For more information, please contact:
3139 Oxford Street
P.O. Box 2286
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 3E1
(902) 426-7485
Page 32