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(UPI) - The Canadian government Wednesday unveiled a new set of rules aimed at countering organized crime.
The amendments to the Criminal Code were approved by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's cabinet and target gambling in particular as well as drugs and prostitution.
"When there's money to be made from these acts, you can bet organized crime groups will be involved," Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said in Montreal.
The 11 specific offenses include cheating at gambling, bookmaking and operating illegal casinos or a "common bawdy house."
Nicholson called the rule changes a means of closing "loopholes" that crime syndicates use to generate profits that can be used to finance violent activities.
Opposition politicians gave the changes a tepid response and said they suspected Harper's government was focusing public attention on crime to divert the spotlight from other pressing issues, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation said.
