This feature explores the notorious story of Canadian espionage in Ottawa, and how the RCMP and FBI worked together to uncover some of the workings of the criminal underworld—all linked through cyberspace.
It focuses on Cameron Ortis, once the RCMP’s top intelligence officer, but also an unsuspecting private eye, generous gambler, leader of a Mexican cartel, Australian motorbike Gang and the founder of a mobile phone company. Outside of Hollywood, it’s hard to imagine how this would play out, but the reality revealed is actually stranger than fiction.
An innovative security technology company founded by creative developers led to criminals being active. The intent is apparently harmless, as even ordinary people want to protect their data, but criminals seem to want it even more.
What started as the rise to power of “the smartest guy in the room” morphed into the unauthorized sharing of classified information. It calls into question how Canada’s leading investigative organizations select their candidates and constantly assess their loyalty and commitment to the organization, especially when they are civilians.
Later, a player’s generous sponsorship for a good cause bankrupted a money-laundering ring. Very interesting because these rings usually work in a very innocuous, deceptively simple way.
The story gets even more intriguing when a strange request for a private eye establishes a crucial connection to a transnational criminal investigation.
The depth feature provides an interesting look into details beyond the story’s title. We’re introduced to people whose ambitions are clearly brilliant, but whose ambitions are criminal in nature. This is another example of how economic incentives can encourage criminal activity by acting as an incentive to commit illegal acts.
Directed by: Scott Anderson
