Blood and Money: Vancouver’s Untold Story of Wealth and Crime ( Introduction to the Series )

Vancouver, with its stunning landscapes and bustling economy, hides a darker story beneath its surface. Over the past few decades, the city has become a fertile ground for the intersection of legitimate business and organized crime, where the lines between fast money, gang activity, and financial fraud blur.

 The seeds of corruption planted in the 1990s are now visible in the violence that spills onto the streets today—an underworld built on the profits of drug trafficking, money laundering, and an unchecked real estate boom.

This chapter unravels the twisted connections between organized crime and the rise of wealth in Metro Vancouver, the infamous Pickton brothers, whose sudden riches from real estate sales shielded their horrific crimes. We’ll also explore the murders of stockbrokers, the disappearance of Nick and Lisa Masee, and the brazen assassinations that point to a deeper, more insidious web of corruption involving gangs and white-collar criminals.

In this tangled web, gang violence, drug trafficking, and money laundering run alongside legitimate businesses. The same fortunes that flowed into the city’s penthouses have been funneled through Vancouver’s streets, tainting both legal enterprises and the growing criminal empire. It is in this murky landscape that Vancouver’s present-day chaos took root.

From the rise of biker gangs and drug trade to the mysterious disappearances and assassinations that followed, the consequences of this toxic blend of greed and violence echo through the Lower Mainland, shaping the city we see today. This is the story of Vancouver's hidden underworld—where money, crime, and chaos collided.

(7 min clip)

 Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) wrote Brave New World in 1931 and published it in 1932. The English author and screenwriter was born in Surrey, England and educated at Oxford. He died in Los Angeles, California.

“Technology was made for man and not man for technology.”

A few years after the publication of Brave New World Revisited, the revered novelist appeared on In Conversation with John Morgan to talk about dystopian and utopian worlds and the increasing influence that technology was having over peoples lives. 

Originally broadcast 30 July, 1961.

Meet my New Co-Hosts

"Agent Dexter is the analytical powerhouse of the Dark Mind Detective team. His methodical mind processes vast amounts of data with precision, combing through complex case files and revealing details that might otherwise go unnoticed. Calm, logical, and direct, Dexter’s insights ground each investigation, making even the toughest cases accessible and clear."

"Agent Lexie brings empathy and insight to Dark Mind Detective. Her focus lies on the human elements within each case, offering a voice to victims and exploring psychological layers that shed light on motive and impact. Thoughtful and compassionate, Lexie’s perspective balances Dexter’s analysis, creating a well-rounded narrative for each story."

In this conversation, Agents Dexter and Lexie discuss the symbolic connections between Moby-Dick and the Pickton case. Dexter points out how Captain Ahab’s obsessive pursuit of the whale mirrors society’s struggle to make sense of dark, complex crimes like Pickton’s, which often defy logical understanding. Lexie adds that while Ahab’s fixation led to his destruction, society must balance its quest for justice with empathy for victims and their families. Together, they conclude that Moby-Dick teaches a valuable lesson: in pursuing justice, we must approach the unknown with humility, respect, and compassion to avoid being consumed by the darkness we seek to understand.