After-Market Compartments: The hidden broker of organized crime networks in British Columbia

Despite their importance as a tool for criminal groups and their potential role in helping law enforcement combat organized crime, there is still a lack of studies on aftermarket compartments (AMC) as the main object of inquiry. This report aimed to change this by interviewing a total of 22 individuals working in law enforcement, most of whom have extensive experience dealing with AMCs over the course of their careers. The vast majority of these interviews involved law enforcement personnel working in British Columbia, Canada, but our research also expanded to the United States for a handful of interviews with American police officers and police Chiefs whose views and experience provided fresh perspectives to the report. The report also provided an in-depth analysis of all the policies and legislation touching on aftermarket hidden compartments in BC. We analyze the features of the Armoured Vehicle and After-Market Compartment Control Act (SBC 2010) (“AVACCA”), compare the Act to analogous legislation in other jurisdictions, provide open-source descriptive data on 73 civil asset forfeiture cases citing the AVACCA in BC from 2010 to 2023, and assess whether or how the Act may be improved for more widespread use in the province.