In Canada, Italian-based criminals either belong or are connected to one of  three main organizations: the Sicilian mafia, the 'Ndrangheta or the American arm of the Cosa Nostra. The Sicilian mafia, the most influential of the three, has ties to other Sicilian clans in Canada and elsewhere, particularly Venezuela, the United States and Italy.

All of these organizations maintain close ties with Asian and East European-based organized crime, outlaw motorcycle gangs, Colombian and other South American groups, and various domestic criminal organizations.  They  participate in joint criminal ventures with these groups in the pursuit of mutual profit, particularly in the movement of drugs into Canada and providing assistance for the laundering of drug proceeds. 

TOC members are involved across Canada in a variety of criminal endeavours including drug smuggling and trafficking, illegal gaming, money laundering, extortion, and loan-sharking.  Illegal gaming activities include backroom gambling, sports betting, and illegal video lottery gaming terminals.  Profits from these criminal activities are invested in both legitimate commercial enterprises as well as their on-going criminal operations. 

Project OMERTA, involving key members of the CARUANA-CUNTRERA organization, concluded in 2000 with the sentencing of Alfonso and Pasquale CARUANA. It was a reminder that TOC continues to play a prominent role in criminal activities in this country, with extensive links to other organized crime groups both here in Canada and throughout the United States, Europe and South America. 

In Western Canada, TOC members continue to operate legitimate businesses in the fields of construction and development, food supplies and services, and restaurants and coffee bars. Through these establishments, and particularly through their sports and coffee bars, TOC members continue their affiliation with other known organized crime groups.

In Ontario, TOC crime families have been active for many years and continue to maintain their presence. They are involved in extortion, loan-sharking, illegal gambling machines and importing and distributing drugs.

In Québec, a family within the Sicilian organization remains one of the most influential and powerful criminal organizations in the Montreal area, exerting extensive influence over other criminal organizations operating in Montreal. The organization’s influence may be spreading beyond its Québec base.⁵⁷   In April 2001, a $200 million high-tech gambling operation in Ontario and Québec was disrupted by arrests in the two provinces.  The police investigation, Project OLTRE, focused on a criminal operation, allegedly linked to a major TOC organization, that used storefronts and the Internet to coordinate a gambling activity that involved betting on major North American sporting events.⁵⁸

The majority of TOC involvement in the Atlantic region appears to be focused on marine ports and involving the importation of narcotics.

Historically, principals associated with TOC have purposely maintained a low profile in an attempt to avoid police and media attention.  However, TOC in Canada continues to be a prominent player within Canada’s criminal milieu and remains a serious threat.
 

        ⁵⁷ Humphreys, Adrian, “The Man They Call the Canadian Godfather,” The National Post (Toronto), 26 February 2001. 

        ⁵⁸ Freed, Dale Anne, “54 Face Charges in Huge Gambling Bust,” The Toronto Star, 12 April 2001.