Whisper
December 11th, 2008, 07:16 PM
An RCMP inquiry has concluded eight of the country's largest airports have been infiltrated by dozens of criminal groups involved in drug smuggling and human trafficking.
The inquiry, called Project Spawn, examined hundreds of police investigations at the country's eight largest airports.
The police investigations, which covered a two-year period between 2005-2007, concluded hundreds of people were involved in smuggling operations, including close to 300 current or former airline employees.
Chief Supt. Pierre Perron, director general of criminal intelligence for the RCMP, said the report didn't specify what type of criminal gangs were operating, but focused on tendencies and trends used by criminals in airports.
"Criminal organizations and organized crime in general have a transnational nature, meaning that they are working internationally," he said. "Therefore, they certainly need to have access to points of entry in Canada including airports."
Police said members of crime groups work at "corrupting existing employees or by placing criminal associates into the airport work force."
Liberal Senator Colin Kenny, a longtime critic of what he regards as gaping holes in Canada's airport security, said he worries that terrorists will use existing smuggling networks to bring guns, bombs or worse into Canada.
"Smugglers don't much care about what product they are carrying and they don't ask about what's in the bag they are moving," Kenny told CBC News.
The RCMP report quotes a finding by Kenny's Senate security committee that only one per cent of the employees working in high-security areas of the airports are searched on their way in or out — just one of many gaps Kenny wants fixed immediately.
Transport Minister John Baird said he has read the RCMP report and intends to take action on the report.
"I'm going to give the RCMP the tools they need to do the job to fight this new form of crimes at airports," he said. "We are tough on crime."
African herb khat most smuggled substance
Perron said the criminal activity might involve an employee who works in a secure area allowing drug parcels in from Colombia or the Caribbean.
The report also reveals that the most frequently smuggled drug at Canada's major airports is khat. An African herb, khat's leaves are chewed or infused to produce a high.
"Here in Ottawa, there were investigations into the smuggling of khat from Europe into Canada," he said.
According to the report, Vancouver International Airport is the most frequent gateway for cocaine, while Toronto's Pearson Internation Airport is the most popular destination for heroin.
But Perron stressed only a small fraction of the 88,000 people who work at Canadian airports are involved in criminal activities.
"The vast majority of them are decent, honest citizens," he said.
The inquiry, called Project Spawn, examined hundreds of police investigations at the country's eight largest airports.
The police investigations, which covered a two-year period between 2005-2007, concluded hundreds of people were involved in smuggling operations, including close to 300 current or former airline employees.
Chief Supt. Pierre Perron, director general of criminal intelligence for the RCMP, said the report didn't specify what type of criminal gangs were operating, but focused on tendencies and trends used by criminals in airports.
"Criminal organizations and organized crime in general have a transnational nature, meaning that they are working internationally," he said. "Therefore, they certainly need to have access to points of entry in Canada including airports."
Police said members of crime groups work at "corrupting existing employees or by placing criminal associates into the airport work force."
Liberal Senator Colin Kenny, a longtime critic of what he regards as gaping holes in Canada's airport security, said he worries that terrorists will use existing smuggling networks to bring guns, bombs or worse into Canada.
"Smugglers don't much care about what product they are carrying and they don't ask about what's in the bag they are moving," Kenny told CBC News.
The RCMP report quotes a finding by Kenny's Senate security committee that only one per cent of the employees working in high-security areas of the airports are searched on their way in or out — just one of many gaps Kenny wants fixed immediately.
Transport Minister John Baird said he has read the RCMP report and intends to take action on the report.
"I'm going to give the RCMP the tools they need to do the job to fight this new form of crimes at airports," he said. "We are tough on crime."
African herb khat most smuggled substance
Perron said the criminal activity might involve an employee who works in a secure area allowing drug parcels in from Colombia or the Caribbean.
The report also reveals that the most frequently smuggled drug at Canada's major airports is khat. An African herb, khat's leaves are chewed or infused to produce a high.
"Here in Ottawa, there were investigations into the smuggling of khat from Europe into Canada," he said.
According to the report, Vancouver International Airport is the most frequent gateway for cocaine, while Toronto's Pearson Internation Airport is the most popular destination for heroin.
But Perron stressed only a small fraction of the 88,000 people who work at Canadian airports are involved in criminal activities.
"The vast majority of them are decent, honest citizens," he said.