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