Pubdate: Fri, 02 Apr 2004
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
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Copyright: 2004 Calgary Herald
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Don Campbell, CanWest News Service

POLICE FOLLOW DRUG MONEY TRAIL

International Ring Laundered Millions Of Dollars

One day after police delivered a knockout punch to an Ottawa-based 
international drug network, the financial institutions that allegedly 
laundered dirty money, have been shut down pending further investigation.

The Ottawa offices of MDN Currency Exchange Services remained locked 
Thursday. The same was true at nearby Canada Financial Services.

Those institutions will likely remain closed for the foreseeable future 
following the arrests of 170 people across North America, including 50 in 
Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal.

"To this point, all our investigation has all been covert," said RCMP Staff 
Sgt. Marc Pinault, whose drug unit discovered a complex network was behind 
the numerous marijuana grow-ops in the Ottawa area.

"There's been the gathering of the intelligence, the investigation, the 
surveillance, then the execution of the warrants, etc," said Pinault.

"But after Wednesday, well now we're into their houses, into their records 
and into their paperwork. And everybody keeps some kind of records.

"Now we have to assess what we have. A lot of what we gather may lead to us 
gaining further intelligence. On the other hand, we may find information 
which could lead us to lay further charges or make further arrests. We just 
don't know at this point. It's so early."

The joint forces operation, which involved city, provincial and federal 
police agencies in Canada and the U.S., was an extensive two-year 
investigation that culminated with the arrests of alleged kingpins May Le, 
39, of Ottawa, and Ze Wai Wong, 49, of Toronto.

Police believe Le is the mastermind behind Ottawa marijuana grow ops and 
money laundering, operating behind a shield of low-profile, small 
businesses including a clothes manufacturing plant.

Wong was allegedly a virtual chief executive officer of a network moving 
the dangerous drug ecstasy, and investigators believe he relied on Le to 
launder the profits.

Police allege they laundered $5 million US a month. Police seized ecstasy, 
and $8 million worth of marijuana.

Police said the sophisticated smuggling and trafficking operation reached 
16 U.S. cities as far as Los Angeles and New York. 
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman