TORONTO, July 25 - As a result of an investigation instigated in Pittsburgh, P.A., entitled Operation Golden Triangle by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), involving the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enfo orcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a Canadian exportation and trafficking network of Marihuana was alleged to be operating from Canada to the United States with proceeds of crime being brought back into Canada.
The RCMP Greater Toronto Area Drug Section combined with Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Toronto Police Service Asian Organized Crime Task Force (AOCTF) began a cooperative investigation with the OCDETF in Pittsburgh, P .A., dubbed Project OPENGUIN. As a result of this investigation, several Canadian citizens were identified in the exportation and money funnelling network.
On July 24, 2008, members of the RCMP Greater Toronto Area Drug Section, AOCTF, CBSA and OCDETF Pittsburgh, conducted a coordinated takedown of the investigation. Numerous persons have been charged by the U.S. authorities for Conspiracy to Possess Distribute a Controlled Substance and are facing extradition to the U.S..
Arre sted on Extradition Warrants and charged with Conspiracy to Possess and Distribute a Controlled Substance in the U.S. are:
1. CAO, Kieu Dang, age 40, of Johnswood Crescent, Maple, Ontario
2. CHU, Karen Yau Tai, age 50, of Saddle creek Drive, Markham, Ontario
3. LE, Thang Dinh, age 36, of Purcell Crescent, Vaughan, Ontario
4. LEUNG, Wen Jing Maggie, age 23, of Caron Avenue, Windsor, Ontario
5. SAMPLE, Gordon R, age 39, of St. Catharines, Onta rio
6. THAI, An Nguyen, age 47, of Valeria Boulevard, Woodbridge, Ontario
7. THOMAS, Evan W., age 56, of Ohsweken, Ontario
Overall, the investigation led to the seizure of approximately 524 pounds of Marihuana and a pproximately $1,046,000.00 of cash.
"This investigation is an excellent example of many enforcement agencies working in co-operation to dismantle an international criminal network", said Insp. Rick Penney, Officer in Charge of Operations for the Greater Toronto Area Drug Section. "Canadian law enforcement agencies along with their U.S. counterparts in our continuing cooperative enforcement efforts were able to effectively disrupt and bring to prosecution this criminal enterprise that was ope rating on both sides of the border."
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For further information: RCMP Sergeant Marc LaPorte, Media Relations, Office: (519)640-7302, Cell: (416) 992-4409 or Agent Rob Ambrosini, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Media Relations, Office: (412)432-4017
