Hello OCCRP Reader,

Canada has an organized crime problem. The country’s legal system, which makes it difficult to prosecute people associated with criminal syndicates, is a major reason why. 

Take the ’Ndrangheta, Italy’s most powerful mafia. 

In our latest investigation, we revealed how a Toronto-based faction of the ’Ndrangheta is suspected of infiltrating two of Canada’s largest banks, the Royal Bank of Canada and TD, in order to launder their money. 

Despite an enormous amount of evidence, the case fell apart over a technicality. Experts say the ’Ndrangheta faction shifted some of its power to Toronto partially because Italian authorities have been so successful at prosecuting crime bosses, while criminals in Canada are able to take advantage of legal loopholes.

Only Canadians can decide whether Canada adopts stronger laws against organized crime. Our job as investigative journalists is simply to shine a light on these criminal schemes so citizens can make informed decisions.

But this kind of reporting is slow and expensive. So if you want to see more investigations into transnational criminal networks, please become a member of OCCRP’s Accomplice program.

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Law enforcement agencies often struggle with cross-border coordination — but the OCCRP network doesn’t. 

“The misalignment of legal systems is a constant in cooperation activity,” an Italian police official who worked on the case told OCCRP.

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You can read our full investigation into the ’Ndrangheta's Canadian faction here.

— The OCCRP Team