Is Vancouver a narco hub?

Yes, Vancouver is considered a narco hub. According to investigative journalist Sam Cooper, Vancouver has become a significant center for transnational crime and money laundering. This includes activities by triad bosses, Mexican cartels, Middle Eastern crime groups, Russian mafia, and Italian organized crime. These groups have contributed significantly to money laundering, particularly in Vancouver's real estate market, where billions have been laundered 1.

Furthermore, Vancouver is a major global node for fentanyl production and shipment. The Pacific coast of Canada, including Vancouver, serves as a key shipping point for fentanyl precursors coming from China. Superlabs in Vancouver's suburbs produce millions of fentanyl pills weekly, which are then distributed globally to places like Australia, Japan, Seattle, and Los Angeles 2.

Additionally, the presence of these drug trafficking networks often correlates with other illicit activities such as human trafficking and weapons trafficking, making Vancouver not just a narco hub but a broader crime hub 2.