In Alberta, the privatization of liquor sales has created the potential for abuse of the supply system. Evidence of the manufacture of illicit spirits, or moonshine, mounted over 1997. A still dismantled in the Montreal area had a capacity of up to 35,000 litres per week, while another, in Quebec City, was producing 800 litres per week. The Montreal operation was able to supply a major contraband distributor with over 3,900 cases of alcohol over an eight month period. Ontario and Quebec remain the primary contraband entry points, and most of the smuggling there is now controlled by organized crime.
Few organizations limit themselves solely to smuggling.
A recent investigation into a major contraband smuggling group concluded that it was involved in fraud, theft, purchase and sale of bootleg alcohol, possession of counterfeit money, bribery, drug importation and trafficking and money laundering along with the usual alcohol and tobacco smuggling. Nor are groups content simply to smuggle alcohol and tobacco. Recent investigations have noted jewellery, precious gems, genuine and counterfeit Cuban cigars, endangered and protected animal parts, jeans, computer parts, chicken, butter, and CFCs among the contraband flooding back and forth across the border. Any high demand, high profit commodity is potential black market material. Outlook Contraband smugglers will continue to adapt to enforcement measures, varying their strategies, forging alliances and switching to new commodities as circumstances require.