A sophisticated human smuggling organization operating out of Montreal has been implicated in an international network trafficking forged Canadian passports, posing significant national security threats, according to RCMP files obtained by CBC News.
The investigation, dubbed Project O-ctopus, revealed that the smuggling ring had developed methods to bypass standard immigration and security protocols, raising alarms about Canada’s national security. Evidence collected, including cellphone data, WhatsApp messages, documents, videos, and photos, pointed to a larger network involved in fabricating counterfeit passports.
Members of this network allegedly had access to insiders at embassies, potentially issuing visas for a fee to circumvent regular airport travel and security measures. However, these allegations have not been proven in court.
The probe began in July 2022, targeting human smuggling operations around Cornwall, Ontario, and the neighboring Haudenosaunee territory of Akwesasne, which spans the Canada-U.S. border near Montreal. The RCMP led the investigation with support from the Ontario Provincial Police, Canada Border Services Agency, Akwesasne Mohawk Police, and U.S. Border Patrol.
Investigators employed search warrants for cellphones, vehicle tracking devices, and intelligence from detained foreign nationals to build a detailed case against the suspected smuggling network. The organization was also linked to the deaths of nine people, including two families—one from Indiana and one Romanian-Canadian—who drowned in the St. Lawrence River in March 2023 during a U.S.-bound smuggling attempt.
Project O-ctopus culminated in June 2023 with raids on three Montreal-area homes, including the Pierrefonds-Roxboro residence of the alleged ringleader, Thesingarasan Rasiah. Authorities discovered two Sri Lankan nationals, over $380,000 in various currencies, and three cellphones at Rasiah’s home. Information from these devices suggested the network’s reach was broader than initially believed, facilitating efficient international human smuggling.
Rasiah was charged in May 2024 with multiple human smuggling offenses and remains in custody awaiting trial. His lawyer declined to comment. No charges related to passport forgery have been filed against Rasiah.
Investigators found videos and photos on seized cellphones depicting forged Canadian passports, blank Canadian temporary visitor visas, and counterfeit visas from several European Union countries. One video showcased a forged Canadian passport replicating security features from documents issued between 2013 and early 2023, including responses to ultraviolet light and electronic chip scanning.
Kelly Sundberg, a former Canada Border Services Agency officer and criminology professor at Mount Royal University, reviewed the video and described the counterfeit as “incredibly impressive.” He advocates for enhanced security measures, such as biometric identifiers like fingerprints and retinal scans, to protect Canadian passports from sophisticated counterfeiters.
In response, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stated that new security features added to Canadian passports in 2023 make them among the most secure globally.
The investigation also uncovered messages suggesting the network could bypass passport scanners at Istanbul International Airport and had contacts claiming access to visa approval insiders in Canadian, U.S., French, and Mexican embassies. One contact mentioned assisting 35 individuals in entering Canada and offered airport clearance for Cuba for $1,000.
Another contact, believed to be based in Dubai, allegedly facilitated flights from Dubai to Brazil for Sri Lankan nationals and claimed connections with the Guinea-Bissau Ambassador, indicating strong political ties. Investigators also found a money transfer receipt for approximately $377,000 Canadian dollars linked to Rasiah.
Sundberg emphasized the urgency and magnitude of the threat posed by such networks, underscoring the national security concerns highlighted by RCMP investigators.
Source: Swifteradio.com
