Thread by @JohnHua

Ackles tells @CullenInquiryBC that the purpose of @BCRCMP's JIGIT is to investigate illegal gaming and the highest level involving components of organized crime. This includes licensed casinos. @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

In Jan 2017, JIGIT created draft proposal identifyingscope of problem and the operation plan for approval. The primary objective was to focus on proceeds of crime investigations at @riverrockcasino. Ackles tells @CullenInquiryBC this operation was warranted back in 2013 @GlobalBC

Ackles tells the @CullenInquiryBC that the concerns were the same when he started back in 2013, and a similar police operation would habe been warranted if law enforcement had the capacity to do so. @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Remember that @RichmondRCMP and Fred Pinnock were both trying to get a "Casino Crime" team established back in 2007 to focus in on large cash transactions at the @riverrockcasino. This didn't happen. In fact, Pinnock's IIGET team was disbanded in 2009. @GlobalBC @CKNW @BC1

Ackles says there is ongoing work re: whether cash transactions under $10k (the reporting threshold) may still cause a significant money laundering risk. That's because these smaller transactions are on the rise. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Another possible vulnerability is a patron trying to get multiple casino cheques from different venues over the course of a week. There is a limit of one cheque a week. Ackles tells @CullenInquiryBC there is no strong evidence this is occuring. @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Ackles is being asked about work to create an independent gaming control office sometime in 2021. This would be a regulator that includes on-site casino investigators as close to 24/7 as possible. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Ackles says this might include enforcement officers interact with service providers as the cash is being brought in, not after-the-fact through reporting. @GlobalBC @CKNW @BC1

GPEB's Ackles will now be cross-examined by Dorian Simoaneaux, lawyer for Government of Canada, after a brief recess. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Ackles said that police were not typically called when a suspicious cash transaction was reported. That it's a starting point for both police and GPEB. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Ackles is being asked by lawyer for Gov't of Canada about communication between RCMP and GPEB. There was two-way communication. Ackles tells @CullenInquiryBC, info from GPEB was well-received by RCMP. @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Ackles said that having @cfseubc as part of JIGIT means that it can draw on those larger resouces if needed. He also tells @CullenInquiryBC that information sharing is key. @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Ackles will now be cross-examined by @BCLC lawyer Bill Smart. There concerns about 20 minute time limit. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @CKNW @BC1

Smart is asking Ackles about reports of follow-home robberies from casinos during this time as watch commander of @RichmondRCMP. @BCLC's lawyer asking if concealing in gym bags could be a method of theft prevention. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Smart asks Ackles if he was surprised that IIGET was disbanded in 2009. Said he doesn't remember having opinion either way. Ackles was with @RichmondRCMP not GPEB at the time. @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Ackles said that GPEB investigators main role was to create reports and forwarded them to their supervisors and possible police. @BCLC was largely doing the same thing at the time. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Ackles acknowledges that there was frustration from @BCLC that all the communication seemed to be going one-way and that they weren't sure what GPEB was doing with their information. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Ackle agrees with @BCLC lawyer that there was little on-site presence of GPEB investigators between 2013-2016 at @riverrockcasino. Ackles said this was partly due to resources. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Ackles once again says GPEB could have interviewed patrons making large cash transactions, but was directed not to for safety reasons. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Ackles once again pointing out powers as special constables limited GPEB's ability to investigate proceeds of crime and money laundering. This needed to involved police. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

.@BCLC's lawyer asking Ackles if GPEB's Schalk and Vander Graaf termination was linked to them bringing up casino money laundering concerns to Victoria. Ackles said he has no knowledge of reasons for their termination. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @CKNW

Ackles is clarifying his statement that there was no signifcant change in suspicious large cash transactions betweem 2015 and 2018. He says overall amount changed, but acceptance by casino service provider did not. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

.@BCLC's lawyer is making the point that looking back a lot of the measures GPEB put in place could have been implemented earlier. Smart states that GPEB, BCLC and police were all trying to do the right thing. Ackles agrees. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Ackles now answering questions from GCGC's lawyer. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @CKNW @BC1

Ackles being asked about ability GPEB's ability to deregister a casino service provider if they are found to be in non-compliance. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Ackles is being asked about the relationship between GPEB and casino staff. Ackles tells @CullenInquiryBC that relationships were developed over time and generally it was good. @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Ackles said until early 2019, GPEB didn't have provisions to prohibit and ban patrons in the BC Gaming Control Act. This was left up to @BCLC and casino service providers. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @CKNW @BC1

Ackles said GPEB didn't have the power to direct casino service providers to ban players. Said it was up to @BCLC and casino management under the BC Gaming Control act. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @CKNW @BC1

Now, Ackles is being questioned by @BCLC CEO Jim Lightbody's lawyer @CullenInquiryBC. @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Ackles acknowledges when he started with GPEB in 2013, his time with RCMP did not include being at centre of proceeds of crime or money laundering investigations. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @CKNW @BC1

Ackles said when he tried to get more GPEB training regarding investigations of the gaming sector, he was told that there was no funding. @CullenInquiryBC @BC1 @CKNW @GlobalBC

Ackles said it was frustation that GPEB would spend lots of time gathering info about supected money laundering but not in mandate to further investigate. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Asked about police follow up, Ackles said in first two years (2013/2014) he has no knowledge what police did what that info. IN 2015, there was a police investigation but it resulted in stay of proceedings. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Now Ackles is answering questions from Kroerker's lawyer Christine Maineville. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @CKNW @BC1

In April 2014, email between Kroeker & @RichmondRCMP. As detachment of jurisdiction, email stated local law enforcement had no concerns about #moneylaundering at @riverrockcasino. Stated dedicated police officer on-site would do little. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC

This is a very different opinion that former @RichmondRCMP OIC Clapham's testimony back in 2007/2008 that there was a strong need for a dedicated "Casino Crime" team due to increase in suspected criminal activity since @riverrockcasino opened in 2004. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC

Later reports would suggest that suspected money was nearing its peak when this 2014 email from @richmondRCMP stated it did not have a concern about #moneylaundering at the @riverrockcasino. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Concerns once again being raised that Kroeker's lawyer is asking questions that overlap with standing of @BCLC. Lightbody, Kroeker and BCLC all have participant standing. Mainville did say she was covering ground that wasn't covered in earlier cross. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC

Mainville argued this line of questioning does apply to directives Kroeker might have been responding to at the time. But once again, if this was asked earlier by she wouldn't have needed to go over it. @CullenInquiryBC @BC1 @CKNW

Ackles is now being cross-examined by GPEB lawyer Kaitlyn Chewka. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Ackles did clarify that while the bags used to conceal large amounts of cash could be for theft prevention, the suspicion was largely over the way the money was bundled in bricks with elastics. @CullenInquiryBC @GlobalBC @BC1 @CKNW

Ackles tells @CullenInquiryBC aside from 9 arrests in 2015, there have been no further arrests or charges resulting from JIGIT investigations connected to proceeds of crime or #moneylaundering as of yet. @GlobalBC @CKNW @BC1

GPEB's Ken Ackles testimony @CullenInquiryBC has concluded. Right now there's some housekeeping regarding the timing of witnesses depending on the sheer amount of evidence being presented and participants ability to review it. @GlobalBC @CKNW @BC1