Pubdate: Sat, 08 Aug 2009 Source: Packet & Times (CN ON) Page: 7 Copyright: 2009 Osprey Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.orilliapacket.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2397 Author: Rob Lamberti Referenced: 2009 Report on Organized Crime in Canada: http://www.cisc.gc.ca/annual_reports/annual_report_2009/frontpage_2009_e.html DRUGS, SMOKES AND FRAUD Organized crime in Canada boasts a long list of specialities -- many potentially deadly but all aimed at raking in cash, mostly from drugs. The 2009 annual report on the state of organized crime in Canada released yesterday at the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police in Charlottetown, P. E. I., states the approximately 750 gangs continue to focus on drugs and have made Canada a major producer and exporter of ecstasy and marijuana. While the report highlights a few legal successes against organized crime groups, including the Hells Angels in Quebec and Ontario, it also indicates underworld markets are thriving. "Contraband tobacco in Canada is primarily supplied by organized crime groups based in Quebec and Ontario," the report states in its highlights. "Its manufacturing largely occurs on aboriginal reserves in Quebec and Ontario as well as some northern U. S. reserves where it is smuggled into Canada." Fraud remains lucrative, the report states. Groups are focused on making fake birth certificates, driver's licences, health cards, social insurance number cards and passports. The report notes in August, 2008, the Canada Revenue Agency alerted taxpayers about a scam where letters asking for personal information were fraudulently identified as coming from the federal body. The scam moved onto the Internet last March with emails requesting banking and passport information to update records and process refund claims. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom