HEZBOLLAH IN MONTREAL

S E C R E T MONTREAL 000419 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2014 TAGS: PTER KVPR PINR SUBJECT: HEZBOLLAH IN MONTREAL Classified By: Bernadette Allen, Principal Officer; Reasons 1.5 B and D ¶1. (S/NF) Summary: A Local Canadian Law Enforcement Source has informed Post of Terrorist Organizations using Organized Crime networks in Montreal to funnel drugs and money with the profits going to support terrorism. There are several on-going investigations of these networks and Post asks that the information be protected accordingly. ¶2. (S/NF) According to the reliable source cocaine is coming from Haiti to Montreal. The drug couriers are also involved with shipping stolen cars out of the US. Once in Montreal members of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations are using established organized crime networks to distribute the drugs in Canada. The money is then couriered back to the middle-east. Both groups are also linked to credit card fraud and mortgages schemes. ¶3. (S/NF) The money couriers use several methods to carry the money back to the middle-east. They divide the money among several family members to avoid Canadian Customs restrictions (a practice known as "smurfing"). Under Canadian law only individuals carrying more than CAN$10,000 need to declare the money (as opposed to family units). Each member of the group or family would carry less than CAN$10,000; therefore, they did not have to declare the money. In certain cases children were carrying CAN$9,000 in cash. ¶4. (S/NF) Law enforcement believes that some members of Hezbollah are wearing a large gold medallion with a sword and Arabic writing to be recognized as a member of Hezbollah. The medallion can also be worn in a smaller size by other Muslims as a type of "St Christopher" medallion; however, the medallions worn by members of Hezbollah are 3"-4" in size. ALLEN