Rollins leaned forward so that all around the table could see him properly.
“We were informed of the potential sex trafficking route being linked to Russian-Chinese-Korean seafood import connections by Sergeant Bowditch late yesterday afternoon. Our officers have since worked around the clock collating port data within the possible time frame that Tarasov and the other barcoded women might have docked with cargo vessels. We have identified two companies of prime interest, Atlantis Seafood Imports and Orca Products. Both received shipments in that time frame of king crab product labeled as having been produced or made in either China or South Korea.” Rollins hit a key, and the profiles of the two seafood import companies displayed on the screen.
“Both companies are owned by a complex tangle of subsidiary holdings. We have techs presently untangling the ownership structure and attempting to attach specific names to bank accounts. Additionally, we’ve put round-the-clock surveillance on the warehousing facilities of both outfits, and on the managers of those facilities. We’ve also had contact from our deep cover officer who infiltrated the longshoremen’s union nine months ago. He reports there is word among longshoremen affiliated with the Hells Angels that a ‘Special A’ shipment is due. The guys are apparently on edge. Potentially the shipment is one of trafficked women. And potentially the women are being held in cargo aboard one of the ships still awaiting port entry due to the strike.” He cleared his throat. “We’re working with the requisite authorities to gain access to the international vessels currently anchored in the Burrard, but any move will need to be made in concert with other UC operations so that we do not tip off the suspects.”
Takumi interjected. “This cannot be stressed enough. No move can be made. Zero information can escape this room. Not only will it compromise the safety of our UC guys, but we also want to follow this ‘Special A’ shipment through to its maximum conclusion—the location of that coastal hub where the Sophia Tarasov and the other barcoded females were processed and resold.” He turned to Rollins.
“Thank you, Detective. In the meantime, Aegis has its own UC officer out of Quebec, where he infiltrated a Russian organized crime ring two years ago. The same ring manages the club where one of our deceased barcode victims worked. The UC was subsequently seconded to Operation Aegis. He traveled west and has now gained access to a Russian club here in East Vancouver that is loosely affiliated to the Montreal club. The supper club and adult entertainment venue is called Club Orange B. It’s located in East Vancouver, and it’s been a gathering place of suspected criminals with Russian backgrounds since the 1970s. Intel from our UC is consistent with intel from the docks—something big is coming. Soon. But nobody seems to know exactly when. Which is consistent with the port strike theory. Those at the club believed to be connected are reportedly tense, impatient. The longshoremen’s union has been offered a contract by the port, and it’s possible an agreement will be ratified by the union members soon and the strike will be over. As soon as this occurs, those ships will start coming in. We need to be ready. To facilitate intelligence gathering, early this morning, at 3:50 a.m., our UC managed to cause a small fire inside a supply room at Club Orange B, which set off fire alarms. Our surveillance team moved in under cover of responding firefighters who cleared the premises and cut electrical supply while our team installed surveillance devices in key areas of the club identified by the UC. It was a quick operation with minimal damage to the supply room. We now have live surveillance footage from inside the club.”
“And the Russians don’t suspect anything after the fire?” Maddocks said.
All eyes at the table glanced his way.
“We have no indication at this point that they do,” Takumi said. “The installation appears to have gone smoothly. The live surveillance footage from inside the club is being monitored 24-7 by a surveillance team in the building across the street. They’re watching for indication that a ‘shipment’ is imminent. It’s possible that this club is connected to the holding facility that Tarasov described.”
With that, Takumi shut down the briefing. As everyone cleared out, he called Maddocks over and handed him a fat dossier.
“Now that you have requisite security clearance, this is to catch you up. Background.” His narrow black eyes bored into Maddocks, his energy visceral. “Thank you for joining us.”
Maddocks took the dossier. “The inclusion is appreciated.”
But Takumi held on to his end of the dossier a second longer. “Nothing leaves Aegis, understand? You use this information to steer your local investigation, but you do not give out or leak this information.”
Maddocks held the man’s eyes and said nothing. He didn’t have to—the lines in the sand between the two men were clear. Neither fully trusted the other. Takumi released his grip on the file.
“I’ll be up to speed by morning,” Maddocks said, and then left the room.
Takumi watched him go.
CHAPTER 39