Justice committee  As I said, it can be a gradual thing, or a graduating thing. You get involved in illegal cigarettes and it doesn't seem so bad, and the next thing, you don't know what may be offered. As I explained as well, the organized crime groups that are typically involved in cigarette traf

Justice committee  Typically, yes. You're right. Being involved in criminal activity is kind of a gradual thing.

Justice committee  The statistics presented by Canada Border Services Agency, or CBSA, are different from those of the RCMP. However, they coincide with the numbers we have seen. They presented statistics covering a similar period, in 2012 and 2013. While these numbers show an increase of 66%, the

Justice committee  I can give a brief answer. An initiative is under way to call for additional resources for aboriginal policing. In this case that would be an asset.

Justice committee  I can answer part of that, I guess. When I was talking about the different groups that are involved, we're talking about 66 different groups that we have identified through the course of a number of investigations. It would be difficult for me to list them all here.

Justice committee  Yes, and there are different parts to that question. One part is the way illegal tobacco is produced. A lot of people don't know what all is included in that. Some of that tobacco in production is swept off floors and unbeknownst to the user, may contain mice feces and other su

Justice committee  I may not have to even mention them for you folks to already be aware of who those groups are, such as the Hells Angels or the Outlaws motorcycle gangs. There are some that are also native-based organized crime groups. There is a variety of groups that are involved here. Also,

Justice committee  Yes. Typically, organized crime groups are involved in more than one type of crime. A lot of those criminal organizations are involved in crime that will bring them a profit. It's a for-profit crime. The contraband tobacco is a very profitable industry. That's why they engage i

Justice committee  Unfortunately, that is the reality.

Justice committee  It is a difficult question to answer because we will have to use the existing resources. As I said earlier, we already have working partnerships. We are already carrying out efficient investigations. From various standpoints, the new legislation will allow us to prosecute the maj

Justice committee  I would like to think that the tools given to us will help reduce contraband activities, which affects a number of regions in this country. However it would be difficult to attach a number to that. Be that as it may, the new legislation will not replace existing initiatives, incl

Justice committee  No, I don't think so. As I explained earlier, aboriginal groups are not the only ones involved in trafficking contraband tobacco. There are also groups that live off-reserves and others that are made up of non-aboriginals.

Justice committee  Generally speaking, it's like when we investigate any crime or organized crime type of activity. Obviously, we will get a mix of citizens who are concerned and cooperative, and then again we will get some people who feel intimidated. As we know, organized crime uses scare tactics

Justice committee  Definitely. There would be a benefit coming with the implementation of the new law for one thing. As I spoke about in my opening remarks, over 66 groups were identified through the course of investigations that have already taken place. Some of those groups are present on first n

Justice committee  I would probably refrain from describing how the teams are going to be created or dispersed.