Public Knowledge

areas of interest

Organized Crime & Gangs

Did you know organized crime impacts every community in the province? That’s why ALERT has eight regional hub teams dedicated to disrupting and dismantling organized crime to help keep Alberta communities safe.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The scope of human trafficking in Alberta is to a large degree unknown. Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta reports that human trafficking is consistently under-reported.

CHILD EXPLOITATION

ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit investigates the sexual exploitation of children over the Internet while working to reduce harm through public education and prevention. Teaching young people, and their parents, how to safely navigate the Internet is invaluable in protecting them from sexual predators.

PROPERTY CRIMES

Stolen property, vehicle theft, and break and enters are oftentimes connected back to the drug trade with money used to finance addictions. Many criminal organizations incorporate organized theft as part of their operations.

AUTO CRIMES

Organized vehicle theft is a growing problem in Alberta, costing Albertans and insurers an estimated $80 million to replace stolen vehicles. In fact, for every 100,000 people, 545 vehicles are stolen in Alberta (2018)—the highest per capita rate in Canada. This is three times higher than Ontario at 167! Many thefts are crimes of opportunity, driven by drug addiction or need to acquire a vehicle for a criminal act. Still, there are many organized vehicle theft rings operating, participating in re-VINning, cloning, fencing, and exportation.

FIREARMS

Firearms are a serious concern for Canadians as firearm-related crime continues to grow. According to Statistics Canada, firearm-related homicides have increased since 2014.
Gang violence is the primary driver of firearm-related homicides, with just over half of all homicides connected to gang activity.
 

FINANCIAL CRIMES

Did you know organized crime impacts every community in the province? That’s why ALERT has eight regional hub teams dedicated to disrupting and dismantling organized crime to help keep Alberta communities safe.

drugs

ALERT plays a substantial and important role in the co-operative investigation and intervention of drug production and trafficking by organized crime in Alberta. Fentanyl and methamphetamine are two ever-growing concerns that affect communities everywhere in the province. 

ORGANIZED CRIME & GANGS

Did you know organized crime impacts every community in the province? That’s why ALERT has eight regional hub teams dedicated to disrupting and dismantling organized crime to help keep Alberta communities safe.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The scope of human trafficking in Alberta is to a large degree unknown. Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta reports that human trafficking is consistently under-reported.

CHILD EXPLOITATION

ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit investigates the sexual exploitation of children over the Internet while working to reduce harm through public education and prevention. Teaching young people, and their parents, how to safely navigate the Internet is invaluable in protecting them from sexual predators.

PROPERTY CRIMES

Stolen property, vehicle theft, and break and enters are oftentimes connected back to the drug trade with money used to finance addictions. Many criminal organizations incorporate organized theft as part of their operations.

AUTO CRIMES

Organized vehicle theft is a growing problem in Alberta, costing Albertans and insurers an estimated $80 million to replace stolen vehicles. In fact, for every 100,000 people, 545 vehicles are stolen in Alberta (2018)—the highest per capita rate in Canada. This is three times higher than Ontario at 167! Many thefts are crimes of opportunity, driven by drug addiction or need to acquire a vehicle for a criminal act. Still, there are many organized vehicle theft rings operating, participating in re-VINning, cloning, fencing, and exportation.

FIREARMS

Firearms are a serious concern for Canadians as firearm-related crime continues to grow. According to Statistics Canada, firearm-related homicides have increased since 2014. Gang violence is the primary driver of firearm-related homicides, with just over half of all homicides connected to gang activity.

FINANCIAL CRIMES

Financial crime investigations are complex, requiring a significant amount of resources and expertise.

DRUGS

Drug trafficking—it’s still the commodity of choice for organized crime. ALERT has seized more than $600 million worth of harmful drugs since its inception in 2006.