In the same week that the United Nations named Canada as a major supplier of illegal drugs, Alberta passed a law allowing police officers to seize armoured vehicles used by gang members.
The provincial government amended an existing traffic law, giving police the right to request safety inspections of beefed-up vehicles.
The province's justice minister said the goal is to keep vehicles that are "equipped for battle," off the road.
"Gangs have been known to use armoured vehicles in their operations, mainly for protection from rival gangs," Justice Minister Alison Redford said Wednesday. "Since the risk of being shot is the cost of doing business, gangs are fortifying themselves."
Typically, the alterations required to make a vehicle bullet-proof or rocket-propelled grenade-proof, add substantial weight to the vehicle. That needs to be offset by upgrades to braking, steering and suspension systems in order for the vehicle to be safe on the road.
Modified vehicles that are subjected to safety checks and fail, could be tagged with fines of up to $2,000 and their owners could face up to six months in jail.
While the provincial amendment -- the first of its kind in Canada -- is geared towards keeping unsafe vehicles off the road, Redford said the true goal is to keep armoured vehicles out of the hands of gang members.
Henry Hollinger, a former Calgary police officer and gangs and drugs expert, said the new law is a positive step by the government.
"I think it's a pre-emptive strike by the justice system in Alberta to send a clear message to gangs that eye Alberta as a future playground, not to come here and that we have tough laws to be able to seize these vehicles," Hollinger told CTV's Canada AM.
Redford said the use of armoured vehicles has not been a problem in the province as of yet. However, in neighbouring B.C. police have noted that armoured vehicles are becoming more and more prevalent.
"Because this is an issue without borders, we will serve as a model for other jurisdictions -- British Columbia has already asked to review our legislation," she said.
Meanwhile on Wednesday, a UN report showed Canada has become the leading supplier of ecstasy, also known as methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), since 2003-2004 in North America and a growing producer of methamphetamine for global markets.
The UN World Drug Report says the increase has been fuelled by "tough measures" in the U.S., which have pushed manufacturers to move operations to Canada and Mexico.
"Canada has grown to be the most important producer of MDMA for North America, and since 2006, all ecstasy laboratories reported have been large capacity facilities operated principally by Asian organized crime groups," said the report.
