The Diamond Protection Service “DPS”

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

By Cst. Darrell Robertson and Cpl. Les Bancroft, “G” Division

(Excerpt from an article originally printed in Canadian Diamond Notes.)

….The RCMP initiative in dealing with the diamond industry began in 1995 when Sgt. Ray Halwas was assigned to the task of determining the criminal potential attached to the industry. After a great deal of training in Australia, African countries and Europe it was determined that criminal elements were very aware of the Canadian diamond industry and it’s potential. As a result of this determination the D.P.S. was formed in November of 2001. Sgt. Halwas was joined by veteran police officers Cpl. Les Bancroft and Cst. Darrell Robertson, both with a history of northern policing. Sgt. Halwas retired from the RCMP in the latter part of 2002 leaving Yellowknife, at its present strength of two full time RCMP officers.

Diavik Diamond Mine recently became the second diamond producing mine in Canada following in the footsteps of BHP Billiton’s Ekati Mine. Northern Canada now has two operating diamond mines with a potential output in excess of one billion dollars per year. The low volume, high value product is attractive to the criminal element as a means of laundering money and financing other illicit activities.

The Diamond Protection Service is intelligence led investigative unit. Their focus is on keeping the doors closed on organized rime by working pro-actively with partners in government and the diamond industry. The partnerships are collaborative and include local, provincial, national and international governments, law enforcement agencies and industry members. Partnerships are essential to the success of the RCMP’s Diamond protection Service. These partnerships are aimed at deterring, detecting and preventing diamond related crime. The program takes an integrated approach in the overall fight against terrorism and organized crime, and supports national and global security and safety.

On a national level the RCMP Diamond Protection Service has established partnerships with Crimestoppers, the Ontario Provincial Police and are working with part time RCMP coordinators of the D.P.S. in Nunavut, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. the RCMP forensic laboratory in Ottawa is developing forensic diamond profiling for source determination through laser oblation techniques.

The DPS works closely with the security operations of the existing mines and with the secondary polishing industry. While the businesses are responsible for security within their operations the RCMP is responsible for ensuring they operate in safe external environments.”…

…The promotion of awareness within the industry in regard to the potential for organized crime is paramount. “We need to let the industry know that we exist and make them aware of the risks they face”. The DPS demonstrated this at the annual Prospectors & Developers Assoc. of Canada 2003 Convention in Toronto March 9-12 of this year. There were 7000 delegates in attendance. The RCMP/DPS, Forensic Laboratory and OPP partnered for the first time ever at PDAC. They had a booth at the event to spread awareness of their program to the industry. Cst. Robertson advises that the effort was well wortwhhile. Without exception visitors to the booth were surprised to see the police involvement at the mining convention and asked numerous questions. It was only after their program was explained that many of those attending would comment “it makes perfect sense for the police to be involved, I just never thought of it before.” I can’t think of a better venue for us to attend and provide an awareness of our program” states Robertson. “So many people representing such a broad spectrum of the industry”.

The RCMP & OPP work closely together to share best practices and information pertaining to illicit diamond activity. Both police forces are dedicated to the safety and security of the communities in which they serve.

Although Canada has been a diamond producer since 1998 the industry is still developing. The DPS’s understanding of the industry is continually developing as is the criminal interest. Now is the opportunity for law enforcement to be proactive in their fight against organized crime becoming entrenched in the diamond industry.

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