Nine months after the B.C. government struck the commission, the deputy commissioner, the second-highest ranking officer in the force, issued an internal directive in February, 2020, ordering all major crime units to begin considering money laundering or proceeds of crime charges at the outset of their investigations.
Supt. Taylor said he estimated up to $6-million of the force’s $100-million annual budget in the province was dedicated to solving complex money-laundering crimes. But he noted the force is obligated under its policing contract with the province to offer up Mounties during times of crisis – a trend that is becoming more common in recent years.
The commission heard that these cuts from nearly a decade ago led to a “robust” integrated unit of 55 people being disbanded, its various investigators scattered across other corners of the force or leaving policing altogether for other opportunities. None of the mid-level Mounties testifying before the commission offered up their estimate of how many officers are now needed to properly tackle money laundering in B.C.Last November, B.C.
Surely they're watching the casinos where the Chinese launder their money.