CISC National Intelligence Priorities

Aboriginal-based Organized Crime (ABOC)

National Overview

Aboriginal-based gangs are present in a number of urban centres across Canada, particularly in Edmonton, Regina and Winnipeg, with a smaller presence in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. There is little presence of Aboriginal-based gangs in Atlantic Canada or the three northern territories. The gangs are also on and around many Aboriginal reserves nationally; even on smaller, more remote reserves. Gang members will continue to move fluidly on and off reserves, involved in criminal activities and recruitment of new gang members.

The primary gangs nationally are the INDIAN POSSE, REDD ALERT, WARRIORS and NATIVE SYNDICATE, with a number of other smaller gangs that form and reform frequently. Aboriginal-based gangs are assessed by law enforcement as a low-level organized criminal threat. They are generally involved in street-level trafficking of marihuana, cocaine, crack cocaine and methamphetamine. The gangs are also involved in prostitution, break-and-enters, robberies, assaults, intimidation, tobacco fraud, home invasions, vehicle thefts, weapons offences, illegal gaming, and debt collection and enforcement for other organized crime groups, such as the HELLS ANGELS.

In Alberta, Aboriginal-based gangs that once existed primarily in prisons for protection purposes have now recognized the financial benefit of trafficking hard drugs (e.g. cocaine) on reserves. Many of the gangs have ready access to weapons, including firearms, that has resulted in a number of incidents of violence.

In a number of federal and provincial correctional institutions across Canada, Aboriginal-based gangs are involved in drug trafficking, intimidation and assaults. Aboriginal-based gangs exert influence within the correctional institutions, directing the smuggling of drugs into correctional institutions and communicating with gang members outside the institutions.

Aboriginal-based gangs are associated, in various supportive or facilitating roles, to a number of other organized crime groups, particularly the HELLS ANGELS and Asian-based organized crime groups. There are also associations, both within provinces and interprovincially, between other Aboriginal-based gangs.