Organized crime is a persistent and growing challenge for Canada, touching nearly every aspect of society. From drug trafficking to cybercrime, criminal organizations are constantly evolving, exploiting new opportunities, and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. As law enforcement agencies scramble to keep up, the question remains: is Canada doing enough to fight back?
The Expanding Reach of Criminal Networks
Canada is currently home to over 2,000 organized crime groups (OCGs), each with its own structure and sphere of influence. These groups are no longer confined to domestic operations—many have extensive international connections, with links to 48 countries, including the United States, Mexico, and Colombia. A staggering 80% of Canadian OCGs collaborate with other criminal enterprises, creating a vast, interconnected web of illicit activity.
Key Areas of Criminal Activity
Drug Trafficking: A Lethal Business
Illicit drugs remain the lifeblood of organized crime, fueling violence and addiction across the country. The opioid crisis continues to ravage communities, with fentanyl playing a leading role in the nearly 48,000 opioid-related deaths reported in Canada between 2016 and 2024. In a major breakthrough last October, authorities shut down a fentanyl “super lab,” described as the largest of its kind in the country, underscoring the sheer scale of the problem.
Money Laundering: Hiding in Plain Sight
Money laundering has infiltrated many sectors of the economy, with real estate emerging as a preferred method for concealing illicit funds. Criminals are exploiting gaps in financial oversight, prompting calls to strengthen the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). Proposed reforms include enhanced monitoring and stricter penalties to deter bad actors.
Human Trafficking: A Hidden Crisis
Human trafficking remains one of the most insidious crimes in Canada, with thousands of victims—predominantly women and girls—being exploited for forced labor and sexual exploitation. Between 2010 and 2020, law enforcement recorded 2,468 human trafficking cases, but experts believe the actual numbers are much higher.
Cybercrime: The Digital Frontier
Criminal organizations are increasingly turning to cyberspace to carry out fraud, identity theft, and data breaches. In 2023 alone, Canadian businesses reported losses totaling $3.12 billion due to cyberattacks. Despite the rising threat, a recent government report pointed to bureaucratic red tape and staffing shortages as major obstacles to an effective national response.
The Toll on Public Safety and the Economy
Organized crime has far-reaching implications for Canadians. Communities are grappling with rising violence, businesses are losing billions to fraud, and taxpayers are footing the bill for increased law enforcement efforts. In Toronto, the tow-truck industry has become a battleground, with rival gangs fighting deadly turf wars that have resulted in shootings and arson attacks.
Strengthening Border Security: Lessons from Global Leaders
One critical component in the fight against organized crime is enhancing border security to prevent the flow of illicit goods and individuals linked to criminal enterprises. Canada can look to global best practices, particularly from countries like Israel, known for their advanced border surveillance and intelligence capabilities.
Best Practices from Israel
Israel has established itself as a global leader in border security through a multi-layered approach that combines cutting-edge technology with robust intelligence operations. Key elements of Israel’s border security strategy that Canada could adopt include:
- Smart Fencing Systems: Israel employs a combination of high-tech barriers equipped with motion sensors, thermal imaging, and automated response systems to detect and respond to unauthorized movements in real-time.
- Comprehensive Data Integration: Border control agencies in Israel utilize an integrated intelligence system that consolidates information from multiple sources, enabling authorities to identify threats before they reach the border.
- Biometric Identification: Israel has implemented advanced biometric screening at all entry points, ensuring accurate verification of individuals through facial recognition and fingerprint scanning.
- Rapid Response Units: Specialized border security teams are trained to deploy quickly in response to potential breaches, minimizing threats before they escalate.
- Cross-Sector Collaboration: The Israeli model emphasizes collaboration between military, police, and intelligence agencies to ensure a seamless approach to border security.
China’s Ties to Mexican Cartels: A Growing Concern
One of the most concerning developments in organized crime is the deepening connection between Chinese criminal networks and Mexican drug cartels. China has emerged as a key supplier of precursor chemicals used to produce synthetic drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine—substances that are flooding North American markets and fueling Canada’s opioid crisis. These chemicals are often shipped through complex global supply chains, making them difficult to track and intercept.
But it’s not just drugs. Intelligence reports suggest Chinese criminal groups are also involved in human trafficking operations, with Mexican cartels facilitating the smuggling of Chinese nationals into North America for forced labor and sex work. Adding another layer of complexity, Chinese money laundering networks are helping cartels clean their profits through underground banking systems and cryptocurrency transactions, making it harder for law enforcement to follow the money trail.
The growing ties between these international crime syndicates present a major challenge for Canadian authorities. Disrupting their operations will require stronger collaboration with international partners, stricter monitoring of chemical imports, and enhanced financial regulations to crack down on illicit money flows.
Fighting Back: Law Enforcement and Policy Responses
Authorities are ramping up efforts through specialized enforcement units such as the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU), which brings together local, provincial, and federal resources to tackle organized crime head-on. Meanwhile, policymakers are working on legislative reforms aimed at improving coordination and cracking down on financial crimes.
Programs like the Youth Gang Prevention Fund are also stepping in to address the root causes of gang involvement, offering mentorship and job opportunities to at-risk youth.
Ongoing Challenges
Despite these efforts, law enforcement faces several challenges:
- Tech-Savvy Criminals: Criminal groups are using encrypted communication and emerging technologies to evade detection.
- Resource Constraints: Investigating and dismantling sophisticated networks requires sustained funding and manpower.
- Legal Hurdles: Outdated laws often struggle to keep pace with the evolving nature of crime.
- International Barriers: Cross-border cooperation remains complicated by differing legal systems and bureaucratic delays.
What Needs to Be Done?
To effectively combat organized crime, policymakers should consider:
- Boosting Intelligence Capabilities: Investing in AI-driven analytics to track criminal networks more efficiently.
- Strengthening Cybercrime Laws: Introducing tougher penalties and improving the capacity to investigate digital crimes.
- Expanding International Collaboration: Strengthening partnerships with key allies to share intelligence and conduct joint operations.
- Tightening Financial Oversight: Enhancing transparency in real estate and corporate ownership to cut off illicit financial flows.
- Supporting Community-Based Initiatives: Expanding funding for youth programs to deter future generations from turning to crime.
Canada’s battle against organized crime is evolving, and so are the players behind it. The increasing influence of global crime syndicates, particularly the links between China and Mexican cartels, underscores the need for a more aggressive and coordinated approach. Strengthening border security, tightening financial regulations, and improving intelligence-sharing with international allies will be critical to cutting off the resources that fuel these criminal enterprises. Without decisive action, organized crime will continue to pose a growing threat to Canadian communities.
