Shooting in Ontario: a member of a mafia gambling network with an income of $ 131 million was killed

Who is Craig "Truck" McIlquam?

On April 29, 55-year-old Craig McIlquam, a well-known member of the Hells Angels and one of the key figures in a large-scale underground gambling scheme, was shot dead in the quiet city of Burlington, Ontario. Police arrived at the Chinese restaurant after reports of the shooting around 8:30 p.m. McIlquam was taken to the hospital, but he could not be saved.

McIlquam, also known by the nickname "Truck", appeared in a high-profile case of 2019 - Project Hobart. This large-scale raid combined the efforts of several Ontario law enforcement agencies against an illegal betting network operated by representatives of the Hells Angels and the 'Ndrangheta mafia.

What is Project Hobart?

Project Hobart is an investigation conducted by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in 2019. As a result, more than 30 people were arrested. The essence of the case is an underground betting network that allegedly generated more than 131 million Canadian dollars in revenue from 2014 to 2019.

McIlquam, along with Robert Barletta, the founder of the London branch of the Hells Angels, were considered the leaders of this scheme. They controlled illegal sites such as Ultimate SB, Titan SB and PlaytoWin SB - through which bets were accepted, money laundering and debt collection was carried out with the use of violence.

Why did the case fall apart?

Despite the scale of the arrests and seized assets (more than $40 million in real estate, cars, jewellery, and cash), the criminal case collapsed in 2022. The reason is the excessive length of the trial: the judge determined that the hearings would have taken about 42 months, which violates the 30-month limit set in Canada for criminal cases.

However, the defendants did not manage to completely escape the consequences. The Ontario Ministry of Justice continues to use the Civil Remedies Act to seize property without the need for a criminal sentence.

Who are the 'Ndrangheta and why are they important?

'Ndrangheta is a mafia organisation from Calabria, Italy, that has surpassed the more famous Cosa Nostra and Camorra in influence over the past 20 years. Today, it is believed to control up to 80% of cocaine in Europe and a large volume of arms trade, including supplies to both sides of the Syrian war.

Their annual income is estimated at $50-100 billion, and their influence extends to more than 100 countries. In Canada, especially in Ontario and Quebec, 'Ndrangheta works closely with the Hells Angels, especially in the areas of illegal betting and drug trafficking.

Coincidence or reckoning?

According to police, McIlquam's murder was not accidental. The shooting was targeted, and given his past, this is easily explained. Given that the Project Hobart case has not reached a verdict, and the assets are still under threat of seizure, many interested parties may have seen it as a "dangerous witness" or "culprit of failure."

While the motives for the murder have not been officially named, one thing is clear: the world of underground gambling in Canada is not just sports betting. These are money, power and blood.