Presentation by Chief Superintendent Dave Shewchuk

I have been in position in Calgary since mid-January 2000. One of my jobs is to sensitive members, especially those working in federal areas, about the RCMP's organized crime initiative and how it is to be implemented. I also work closely with the CROPS officers in the Region and meet with them at the Council of CROPS meetings which take place two or three times a year. I have also met with the Ministers of Justice for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and attend executive committee meetings of the Criminal Intelligence Services of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, along with COs, CROPS officers, and chiefs of major police services in each province.

Presentations have been made to the executive committees on the RCMP's organized crime initiative, and committees are kept informed of new developments nationally with respect to the organized crime initiative. I attended the CISC National Strategy to Combat Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (MG) Legal Advisory Workshop—chaired by Chief Julian Fantino, Metro Toronto Police Services—together with federal and provincial prosecutors (who prosecute organized crime cases across Canada), and Department of Justice (DOJ) personnel who suggest and draft new legislation. I also liaise with police officers and executives from across the North West Region, Deputy Ministers of Justice, Assistant Deputy Ministers (ADMs) and the Director of Special Prosecutions for Alberta. The Alberta Government is a huge supporter of the organized crime initiative and has earmarked $8,500,000 to CISA, more than three years, to fund organized crime joint forces operations, for training, as well as hiring organized crime prosecutors. I have also made contacts in private industry including those in bank security and forensic accounting firms.

I have made many contacts by attending the Alberta economic crime workshop, Jamaican organized crime workshop, DOJ and OMG workshops. I have also attended meetings of the RCMP's National Operations Council, NOCO meetings and national CROPS officers' POWPM which identify operational priorities. I have made international contacts with the FBI Legal Attache stationed in Ottawa, and the Chief Patrol Agent, U.S. Border Patrol for the regions south of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. We will be having meetings with those and other U.S. enforcement agencies to develop joint intelligence sharing protocols with respect to investigations that have Canadian and U.S. implications.

I also work with senior managers including COs, CROPS and other officers, and attend Regional Executive Committee (REC) meetings and Council of CROPS officers' meetings where I take part in regional priority-setting exercises.

I assist Division management by identifying shortfalls in the intelligence area. It is critical that we have the required intelligence in order to make correct decisions. The foundation of the organized crime initiative rests with the proper collection and analysis of intelligence in order to make informed decisions with respect to identifying the greatest threats to our communities locally, provincially and nationally, and then forming joint forces operations made up of multi-functional teams and proactively investigating organized crime groups in order to dismantle them.

Intelligence is also used to determine the strengths and weaknesses of organized crime groups. The proper use of intelligence is imperative in all areas of decision-making such as the allocation of present and future resources. it is critical that we enhance our capabilities for strategic and tactical analysis. "F" Division has recreated the Division Intelligence Officer position and "K" Division is in the process of doing so. "D" Division will have a program manager to ensure that intelligence is properly collected, analysed and entered onto NCDB and ACIIS so that it can be shared with enforcement agencies across Canada.

REGIONAL CHALLENGES

The North West Region is a huge area which covers the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Outlaw motorcycle gangs and Asian organized groups are expanding their influence in the North West Region.

A major challenge is disclosure. The disclosure costs associated to Project Kachou in Edmonton (Asian organized crime prosecution) are in excess of $1,000,000. major successes such as Project Kachou can outstrip prosecution and technical resources. The problem of encryption is becoming more problematic every day. We need legislative changes if we are to keep pace with the investigation and prosecution of organized crime groups.

One part of the organized crim initiative is to prevent crime from occurring. In the long run, prevention is cheaper and more effective than enforcement action.

Project Pipeline has been extremely successful in the Region, particularly in Saskatchewan. In fact, it has been so successful that we are considering allocating permanent resources to work on this project and coordinate efforts across the Region.

We also have a unique challenge due to the success of the diamond mine industry in "G" Division (Northwest Territories). Canada's diamond mines are producing gems of a quality that's twice the world average. East European organized crime, outlaw motorcycle gangs and Asian organized crime have all shown interest in our diamond industry and it is essential that we be proactive to protect it. Organized crime groups have made significant inroads in all other diamond-producing countries, and we can help prevent them from penetrating that industry in Canada by acting now.

Diamonds are among the most concentrated forms of wealth available. Diamond production is prone to theft and underevalutation, and diamonds may be switched for stones of lesser quality. There is no diamond legislation in Canada, and it is imperative that we have it soon. In South Africa, more than 400 investigators enfore the Diamond Act and they still incur substantial losses. The problems stem from the fact that there is a huge global market, and that the stones are non-identifiable, easy to conceal, and hard to trace. They are also easy to launder or trade for other commodities. One part of the organized crim initiative is to prevent crime from occurring. In the long run, prevention is cheaper and more effective than enforcement action. This emerging industry represents a unique opportunity for us to have the only diamond production system in the world that is not invaded by organized crime.

Source: Challenges and Champions