NEW: Canada Model money laundering crisis -- "Ottawa must crack down on Toronto underground banks, community leaders say" | Globalnews.ca globalnews.ca/news/7593255/o… @CullenInquiryBC
1. Iranian-Canadian community leaders and anti-money laundering experts say Canada is failing to police the explosive growth of Toronto-based underground currency exchanges that are laundering drug money, financing foreign terrorist groups, and supporting the Iranian regime.
2. 'Canada is showing itself to be a weak link in enforcing against money laundering. Because what we are seeing in Toronto is identical to the underground banking we are seeing on the west coast with money laundering, and how it relates to the regime in China.'
3. Sources said since sanctions on Iran in 2010, there has been explosive growth in underground currency transfers through exchange shops in the Steeles and Yonge area, servicing the Persian community. Former RCMP expert who has worked on the file counts about 50. Inside source
4. in the industry counts about 70. Sources suggest many are not reporting to Fintrac. Cash is being deposited in nominee bank accounts that function as currency exchanges. Law offices. Realtors. Cash economy is experiencing 'mushroom' growth, one Iranian-Canadian leader said.
5. @PierrePoilievre “I’m concerned about the volume of the exchange transfers from Iran without any monitoring by the Canadian government,” Banai said. “Because we know the Iranian economy is controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards (in Iran) ...
6. and lots of criminal money is infiltrating into the Iranian economy, in many means.”
7. globalnews.ca/video/7597545/… Garry Clement says the Iranian regime is using Toronto like the Chinese regime is using Vancouver. Hawala banks tight with hostile state actors.
8. "What we are doing is expanding transnational crime. We have become a safe haven for transnational crime." Clement said. Believes Canadian officials turning a blind money to illegal funds flowing in, because its boosting economy.
9. “For years activists have been trying to draw the attention of Canadian officials that money is pouring into the country and people are under threat,” @MLInstitute 's @kshahrooz said.
10. “Hopefully (the Cameron Ortis case) should drive home the point that this is a serious crisis. The Iranian community needs to be protected from international money laundering and terrorist networks with ties to Iran.”
11. Shahrooz said many Iranian-Canadians that immigrated to Canada to live in a free society are concerned Iranian-regime supporters and connected businesspersons are buying their way into Canada with dirty money, and some politicians are welcoming them with open arms.
12. He said the concern raised by Global News investigations that show Hezbollah and narcos are using Toronto underground banks, is that money tied to Iran could also be funding Hezbollah friendly political operations in Toronto community organizations ...
13. could be used to influence Canadian politicians, could be used to threaten critics of the Iranian regime, and any number of nefarious tactics.
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