Two boys lured into gang life at 12, trafficked across Canada to sell drugs | CBC
How Kai was drawn in
Kai began warning his mother that he might not return home when he was 12. His mother, identified as Aria to protect her, had moved the family to separate him from his father, who had a criminal past and street connections.
Aria believes some staff enabled gang members to manipulate Kai and pressure him into drug trafficking. Kai said men in their 20s and 30s gained his trust, and that he did not understand what he was carrying or the risks involved.
He described being sent thousands of kilometres away, without family nearby, and said he could not simply leave because the person who sent him expected him to return with money or drugs. He described the possible outcomes as freedom, jail or death.
Jamal’s trips from home
Jamal, whose name was changed for his safety, said he began travelling out of town to sell drugs at 12. After he had been away for more than a week, his mother reported him missing.
His farthest trip was to Yellowknife, and he said he was persuaded to pay for the travel himself. He viewed the older men as role models and said instability at home gave him reason to go outside.
Jamal told the fifth estate that young people can travel around Canada with little difficulty, even when they are underage. His account offers an explanation for how families can lose track of boys sent to distant places.
A network across Canada
Over two years, the fifth estate investigated reports of young Black boys from the Greater Toronto Area being groomed for drug trafficking. The investigation traced trips to Ontario cities including Sarnia and Thunder Bay, as well as Ginoogaming, a First Nation, and farther across the country.
The investigation previously found that adult traffickers use boys as couriers and legal shields, leaving them to face consequences when police make drug seizures. Black boys may also face challenges including high unemployment and bias in education and the justice system, which can increase vulnerability to organized crime.
Winnipeg police Insp. Josh Ewatski said gang-supplied drugs have been linked to international cartels. He said boys are often used for street-level dealing so gang members can avoid exposure to violence or arrest.
Key points
- Kai and Jamal say they were recruited at 12 and sent away to sell drugs.
- Their trips included Yellowknife, Sarnia, Thunder Bay and Ginoogaming.
- The fifth estate found that traffickers can use boys as couriers and legal shields.
- Winnipeg investigators seized 525 kilograms of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl in May.