The RCMP and other police forces arrested 15 people Monday in a series of raids in Montreal and Toronto targeting what investigators say is an extensive international money laundering network with ties to organized crime. The RCMP, working with the Canada Revenue Agency, began the probe dubbed "Collector" in 2016 and wrapped it up last spring before launching raids Monday at around 6 a.m. More than 300 RCMP officers in Ontario and Quebec took part in Monday's operation, aided by officers from the Montreal, Laval and Toronto police forces. RCMP Cpl. Genevieve Byrne said the raids -- which involved 11 search warrants in Montreal and Toronto -- were ongoing and would likely continue throughout the day. Byrne said the warrants target 19 people, but only 15 had been arrested by early afternoon. The location of the four others remains unknown, she said. RCMP Sgt. Luc Thibault said Monday's operation "targets individuals who facilitated the collection of money from criminal groups in Montreal and laundered the proceeds of their illicit activities." He said in an interview that most of the money was drug-related but would not give details about the network's operations. Thibault also declined to say what other countries were involved in the network or where the allegedly laundered money ended up. The RCMP are planning a news conference in Montreal Tuesday morning. Thibault said the suspects arrested Monday would be transported for detention in Laval, just north of Montreal. An RCMP plane landed around 10:15 a.m. at the St-Hubert airport in the Montreal suburb of Longueuil carrying several suspects arrested in the Toronto area. The remaining people arrested in Ontario were expected to be brought to Laval later in the day. Police seized large quantities of drugs and $1.7 million in Canadian and foreign currency. Thibault said the Canada Revenue Agency seized properties "owned by network members" valued at $15 million. The RCMP is not releasing the names of the suspects arrested Monday but said they will likely face charges including conspiracy, trafficking and laundering the proceeds of crime. Byrne said the 15 arrested suspects will appear in court Monday or Tuesday in the Montreal area.<doc-sep>The RCMP says it has cracked down on an elaborate international money-laundering network operated by organized-crime cells in Montreal and Toronto. Police arrested 17 people in early morning raids in the two cities Monday, seizing more than $32.8 million in assets. "It is by depriving criminal groups of their money-laundering networks that we will shake the very structure of organized crime,'' said RCMP Supt. Martine Fontaine Tuesday at a news conference. The network had the capacity to launder millions of dollars, she said. Dubbed Project Collecteur, the bust involved multiple police forces and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), the RCMP said in a statement Tuesday that offered some details of their investigation. Fontaine called the investigation extremely complex and one of the most important of its kind in Canada — one of the rare money-laundering probes that has led to gangsterism charges. Investigators had to narrow their focus to certain people and keep track of evidence, she said, in a bid to facilitate the prosecution process and not cause delays. "It's thousands and thousands of documents to disclose and to caveat and to be prepared for full disclosure," Fontaine said. The arrests were the result of a two-year investigation launched in the spring of 2016. Those targeted were allegedly collecting money from criminal organizations in Montreal and then moving that money through various individuals and currency exchange offices in Toronto. More than 300 officers were involved in the raids Monday morning. The RCMP teamed up with Montreal, Laval and Toronto police. (Radio-Canada) International network The group used an informal value transfer system with connections in Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, the United States and China, the RCMP said. The funds were then returned to drug-exporting countries, such as Colombia and Mexico. "This procedure allowed for the laundering of significant amounts of money originating from illegal activities, including drug trafficking. The criminal organizations could thus import drugs through this network," the RCMP said. That network has now been identified and dismantled, according to the Mounties. Of the suspects arrested, 10 were in Quebec and seven were in Ontario. The suspects, aged 26 to 71, are facing charges that include conspiracy, possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking and laundering proceeds of crime. Police are still searching for these three suspects. (RCMP) Three more suspects are still being sought by police. Police are still looking for: Francisco Javier Jimenez Guerrero, 35, address unknown. Victor Vargotskii, 56, of Montreal. Frederick Rayman, 71, of Unionville, Ont. The names of those arrested are: Quebec cell Mohamad Jaber, 51, Laval. Kamel Ghaddar, 39, Laval. Eric Bradette, 36, L'Assomption. Sergio Violetta Galvez, 43, Laval. Alexei Parasenco, 26, Montreal. Mario Maratta, 64, Sainte-Sophie. Sorin Ehrlich, 62, Montreal. Gary Maybee, 57, Austin. Ontario cell Nader Gramian-Nik, 56, Vaughan. Tania Geramian-Nik, 28, Vaughan. Sahar Shojaei, 45, Thornhill. Thomas Hsueh, 47, Thornhill. Mohammadreza Sheikhhassani, 55, Richmond Hill. Shabnam Mansouri, 38, Maple. During the investigation and the searches, police seized drugs including cannabis, cocaine, hashish and methamphetamine, with a market value of close to $2.2 million, the RCMP said. The RCMP say officers seized cannabis, cocaine, hashish and methamphetamine, for a market value of close to $2.2 million in Monday's raids. (RCMP) Bank accounts and money in Canadian and foreign currencies were also seized, for a value of $8.7 million. The CRA seized six properties valued at about $15 million, and the RCMP seized property estimated to be worth $7 million. Clandestine swaps in parking lots RCMP Sgt. François-Olivier Myette said there were two "major organizations" operating — one in Toronto and the other in Montreal. He said the cash was moved in suitcases, duffel bags and car trunks. The RCMP conducted surveillance operations, monitoring secret transactions in parking lots and elsewhere, capturing everything on video. The RCMP says bank accounts and money in Canadian and foreign currencies valued at $8.7 million were seized. (RCMP) The suspects sometimes didn't know each other, he said. They would identify each other during these transactions by using a predetermined token number — often a serial number on the cash. The cash transactions involved between $500,000 and $1 million at a time. The suspects would pick up bags of cash in Toronto and then release an equivalent value, mainly in Dubai, he said. "It's like if you take money from your left pocket and you exit it from your right pocket," Myette said. "That's the way it operates." Stéphane Bonin, director of criminal investigations for Canada Revenue Agency, left, RCMP Supt. Martine Fontaine and RCMP Sgt. Francois-Olivier Myette, right. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press) 50 CRA investigators Stéphane Bonin, director of criminal investigations for the CRA, said 50 CRA investigators were involved in the operation in both Montreal and Toronto. "Tax evasion and the underground economy both in Canada and abroad are priorities of the Canada Revenue Agency, as well as other tax administrations around the world," he said. "Results like those reported today are made possible thanks to our tight collaboration with national partners such as the RCMP, as well as international partners around the world."<doc-sep>
Send this page to someone via email The RCMP and other police forces arrested 17 people in a series of raids in Montreal and Toronto targeting what investigators say is an extensive international money laundering network with ties to organized crime. The two alleged leaders were picked up in the Toronto area. Police hope to dismantle a ring that was collecting the proceeds of crime and laundering it. Charges… Conspiracy, gangsterism, trafficking and Laundering the proceeds of crime. — Mike Armstrong (@ArmstrongGN) February 11, 2019 The RCMP, working with the Canada Revenue Agency, began the probe dubbed “Collector” in 2016 and wrapped it up last spring before launching raids Monday at around 6 a.m. More than 300 RCMP officers in Ontario and Quebec took part in Monday’s operation, aided by officers from the Montreal, Laval and Toronto police forces. READ MORE: Not just B.C. : Most provinces in Canada fail to secure convictions in money-laundering cases RCMP Cpl. Genevieve Byrne said the raids – which involved 11 search warrants in Montreal and Toronto – were ongoing and would likely continue throughout the day. Byrne said the warrants target 19 people, but only 15 had been arrested by early afternoon. The location of the four others remains unknown, she said. Story continues below advertisement WATCH BELOW: Canada fails to convict cash-cleaning criminals 2:48 Canada fails to convict cash-cleaning criminals Canada fails to convict cash-cleaning criminals – Feb 10, 2019 RCMP Sgt. Luc Thibault said Monday’s operation “targets individuals who facilitated the collection of money from criminal groups in Montreal and laundered the proceeds of their illicit activities.” He said in an interview that most of the money was drug-related but would not give details about the network’s operations. READ MORE: Strong majority supports public inquiry into B.C. money laundering Thibault also declined to say what other countries were involved in the network or where the allegedly laundered money ended up. The RCMP are planning a news conference in Montreal Tuesday morning. Thibault said the suspects arrested Monday would be transported for detention in Laval, just north of Montreal. An RCMP plane landed around 10:15 a.m. at the St-Hubert airport in the Montreal suburb of Longueuil carrying several suspects arrested in the Toronto area. The remaining people arrested in Ontario were expected to be brought to Laval later in the day. Story continues below advertisement WATCH BELOW: Money laundering expert says Canada failing to prosecute financial crimes 2:03 Money laundering expert says Canada failing to prosecute financial crimes Money laundering expert says Canada failing to prosecute financial crimes – Feb 10, 2019 Police seized large quantities of drugs and $1.7 million in Canadian and foreign currency. Thibault said the Canada Revenue Agency seized properties “owned by network members” valued at $15 million. READ MORE: Secret police study finds crime networks could have laundered over $1B through Vancouver homes in 2016 The RCMP is not releasing the names of the suspects arrested Monday but said they will likely face charges including conspiracy, trafficking and laundering the proceeds of crime. Byrne said the 15 arrested suspects will appear in court Monday or Tuesday in the Montreal area. WATCH BELOW: Public support grows for inquiry into money laundering 1:53 Public support grows for inquiry into money laundering Public support grows for inquiry into money laundering – Feb 8, 2019