Traditional (Italian-based) organized crime is well-established in Canada; for many groups comprising a history of several generations. This longstanding presence is a result of their organizational strength, which has derived from their stability and connections with other organized crime groups and associates. Domestically, these associations include outlaw motorcycle gangs, Asian-based, Eastern European-based, and Aboriginal-based, as well as other organized crime groups. They also have international connections with organized crime groups in South America, Italy and the United States.

Traditional (Italian-based) organized crime groups fall within one of three main types depending on their geographical origins: the Sicilian mafia, the ‘Ndrangheta (or Calabrese), and La Cosa Nostra, based in the United States. Although TOC continues to be most powerful in Ontario and Quebec, they also exert influence to varying degrees in other provinces across the country. Nevertheless, it is the Sicilian mafia that remains the most influential amongst TOC groups in this country. Since a power shift from the Calabrian mafia in the 1970s, the Sicilian mafia have built their organizations on tight family bonds while increasing their capacity to carry out sophisticated operations that can extend country-wide.

Generally, the capabilities of TOC in Canada are highly sophisticated. They include the undertaking of numerous criminal enterprises and the accompanying use of legitimate businesses that help to facilitate their criminal activities. Involvement in the illicit drug trade is a major source of wealth, including the importation, distribution and trafficking of various illicit drugs and marihuana cultivation. Drug-related activities range from lower-level drug trafficking to high-level importation schemes, involving a reliance on international networks.

The size and level of sophistication varies amongst TOC groups and determines the scope of their criminal activities. Nevertheless, importation and distribution of cocaine, hashish, ecstasy, and marihuana remain primary sources of obtaining wealth. Illegal gaming/bookmaking is also a specialty of TOC groups in Canada, including Internet gambling (offshore lotteries) and illegal gaming establishments in cafés or restaurants. To varying degrees, additional TOC criminal activities comprise money laundering, loansharking, extortion, fraud and large-scale thefts. Nonetheless, all TOC groups in Canada exert influence within communities, through legitimate businesses or investments, such as in real estate.

What facilitates TOC criminal organizations to become more powerful is their ability to reinvest their illicit profits into legitimate business. Legitimate businesses targeted by TOC groups include: construction and transport companies, restaurants and bars, and import/export companies. This not only provides avenues to launder money, but also the opportunity to expand their influence. The 1998 Project OMERTA demonstrated that some TOC groups have access to the international banking system where they can launder the proceeds of crime.

TOC develop strategic objectives to expand and cement their influence. A low profile is maintained, in accordance with the strategic use of violence and operation under the guise of legitimate business. International and interprovincial connections enable the facilitation of criminal operations. The capacity to launder the proceeds of crime has become a salient element for TOC in Canada as their level of sophistication and wealth accumulated from their criminal activities requires a high degree of expertise and insulation.

TOC groups in the western provinces maintain a relatively low profile while they continue to be involved in trafficking cocaine, money laundering and illegal gaming and bookmaking. In British Columbia, TOC groups are heavily involved in illegal bookmaking and gambling. In Alberta, TOC groups are highly involved in drug trafficking and own numerous legitimate businesses. TOC groups operating in Saskatchewan and Manitoba are less influential than other TOC groups but remain involved mostly in drug trafficking.

The most influential Traditional (Italian-based) organized crime groups remain in Central Canada; specifically with the largest networks having influence in key locations across the country, including British Columbia and provinces in the Atlantic region. These powerful TOC groups are capable of carrying out a wide variety of criminal operations through networks domestically and internationally.

A recent successful Ontario-based TOC investigation, Project RIP, culminated in September 2002 with the arrests of 32 people. A criminal network involved in the distribution of drugs, including marihuana, ecstasy, gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), anabolic steroids, psilocybin (magic mushrooms), credit card fraud and stolen goods was disrupted as a result of this investigation. Interprovincial connections and links to the United States resulted in the arrests of individuals from Ontario, New Brunswick and the state of New York.

In Atlantic Canada, TOC groups based in other provinces continue to exert influence by making use of the coastline and marine ports to import large quantities of illicit drugs into Canada.