UNPRECEDENTED SURGE IN ORGANISED CRIME ON TRUDEAU'S WATCH

Organised crime and gang violence in Canada, which accused India of involvement in the assassination of a Khalistani operative earlier this year, have reached unprecedented levels during the second term of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who assumed office in November 2015.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

According to data compiled by one of Canada’s own government agencies, Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC), which coordinates and shares criminal intelligence amongst member police forces, at least 3,000 gangs are operating in Canada, out of which some are so powerful that they have been classified into three threat levels.

As per the data, 14 of these gangs have been classified as National Level Threat and the crime they commit includes infiltrating police and security agencies. Those 14 “high-level threats” are operating in four provinces, the CISC report reveals: Ontario (6), Quebec (3), British Columbia (4) and Alberta (1). 37% of these are newly reported gangs, meaning that these came into existence in the last one year.

As per the report, these gangs are attempting to “infiltrate” government agencies and departments and have likely infiltrated some of the government agencies. According to CISC, Canada is presently battling a baffling number of 434 gangs, with roughly 7,000 members that are active at the national level.

Ontario has the highest number of such gang members in absolute terms, with 216 youth gangs and 3,320 youth gang members. Saskatchewan is second (28 youth gangs and 1,315 members), followed by British Columbia (102 youth gangs and 1,027 members). Significantly, 4% or 29 such organised criminal groups have managed to build influence or have access within Canadian public sector agencies or departments.