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Reproduction for private use or gain is subject to original copyright restrictions.
This report is a compilation of extracts translations of
Canadian open source information, and not evaluated intelligence.

Foreign Military Studies Office, FMSO / JRIC

International Borders Security Research Team
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
 
 
Canada Newsbriefs for Week of 17 October 2009

For questions or original articles, contact FMSO-JRIC Analyst, (913) 684-5645

Additional Open Source Intelligence is available to authorized government users from the Open Source
Center (OSC) at https://www.opensource.gov.
https://www.opensource.gov
-From an OSIS computer, visit: http://www.fmso.osis.gov/products.htm#cnmexico
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CONTENTS:

TERRORISM 
The Secret Mali Deal that Involved the Release of al-Qaeda Members – 10 October 2009 
MILITARY 
Parliament to Debate Post-2011 Role in Afghanistan – 13 October 2009 
Canadian Satellite System Will Monitor Ships Around the World – 07 October 2009 
BORDER SECURITY/IMMIGRATION 
Record $(CAN) 15 Million Opium Seized at Border – 09 October 2009 
192 Pounds of Cocaine Intercepted at Border – 14 October 2009 
Smugglers Increasingly Using Helicopters to Transport Drugs – 10 October 2009 
Deportations Surge 50 Percent in a Decade – 12 October 2009 
REGIONAL AND TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY 
B.C. Marijuana Bumper Crop Means Large Drug Busts for RMCP – 12 October 2009 
RMCP Break-up Cocaine Trafficking Operation in Northern Alberta – 15 October 2009 
Montreal Mafia Controls 80 Percent of Road Contracts – 15 October 2009 

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TERRORISM
The Secret Mali Deal that Involved the Release of al-Qaeda Members – 10 October 2009

Multiple Malian officials confirmed that millions in cash were paid and four members of the al-Qaeda in
the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) were released in exchange for Canadian diplomats Robert Fowler and Louis
Guay on 21 April 2009. Fowler and Guay were kidnapped in Niger in December 2008 and taken across
into Mali where they spent 130 days in captivity alongside two European tourists. Canadian Prime
Minister Stephen Harper denied that his government made any concessions, but added that, “what efforts
or initiatives may have been undertaken by other governments are questions one would have to put to
those governments.” One of the prisoners, named Sidi, was a bomb-maker and one other prisoner, known
as Tayoub, was a logistics expert. A prisoner named Mohamed was reportedly killed in a car accident
during the prisoner transfer. A Malian member of parliament stated that the prisoner release angered the
Algerian government. Sources stated that the British Government complained to Canada that they made it
more for them to release Edwin Dyer, a British tourist held by the group who was later killed in May
2009. AQIM was demanding the release of Abu Qatada, a Jordanian held in Britain, in exchange for
Dyer.

English Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/the-secret-mali-deal-to-releasebr-two-

canadians/article1319983/

MILITARY
Parliament to Debate Post-2011 Role in Afghanistan – 13 October 2009

Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay stated that Canada will not leave Afghanistan after their
combat obligations expire in 2011. He argued that there will be a change from a combat to development
and training mission. MacKay reaffirmed that the current government would adhere to a motion passed by
Parliament to withdraw all combat troops from Afghanistan starting in July 2011. Members of Parliament
pointed out that details of the future mission will be debated in Parliament before any future involvement
is decided upon.

English Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/parliament-to-debate-post-2011-role-in-

afghanistan/article1317151/

Canadian Satellite System Will Monitor Ships Around the World – 07 October 2009

Canadian company Com Dev International is set to launch a new satellite system that will be able to track
ships around the world using Automatic Identification System (AIS) beacons. Com Dev working
conjointly with Canada’s Defense Research and Development and the Canadian Space Agency, will
launch three satellites that will be able to identify ships, their speed and direction of travel around the
world. Every ship over 300 tons is required by international maritime safety standards to carry the AIS
beacon.

English Source:
http://www.canada.com/technology/Canadian+satellite+system+could+monitor+ships+around+world/208
3309/story.html

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BORDER SECURITY/IMMIGRATION
Record $(CAN) 15 Million Opium Seized at Border – 09 October 2009

Calgary border agents seized more than 7,000 kilograms of opium poppy pod s in two separate transport
trailers valued at approximately $(CAN) 15 million. The first seizure occurred on 22 September and
involved the seizure of 2,700 kilograms of poppy pods from a commercial container declared as dried
grasses through the Coutts, Alberta border crossing. The second container, seized the day after, contained
4,500 kilograms of dried poppy pods declared as dried flowers. Officials stated that the poppy pods are
used to make Doda, an opium powder often consumed as a tea.

English Source:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Record+opium+haul+seized+border/2089063/story.html

192 Pounds of Cocaine Intercepted at Border – 14 October 2009

U.S. border agents arrested a Surrey, British Columbia, man after a dog
discovered 192 pounds of cocaine hidden in a secret compartment in his
vehicle on 10 October. The seizure occurred at Pacific Highway border
crossing. The drugs were packaged in 76 individual bricks worth an estimated
$(CAN) 3 million.

English Source: http://www.bclocalnews.com/surrey_area/peacearchnews/news/64302522.html

Smugglers Increasingly Using Helicopters to Transport Drugs – 10 October 2009

Drug crime analyst, Michael Chettleburgh, argues that helicopters are increasingly being used to smuggle
B.C. marijuana across the U.S. border in exchange for cocaine, heroin and guns. The cases of Jeremy
Snow, who was recently arrested in northern Idaho with 80 kilograms of marijuana, and Sam Lindsay-
Brown, who was arrested in Spokane, Washington, for smuggling marijuana and ecstasy, support
Chettleburgh’s argument. Both suspects attended helicopter flight schools before attempting to smuggle
drugs across the border. Snow attended Kelowna’s Okanagan Mountain Helicopters and Brown attended
Chinook Helicopters in Abbotsford for training. The flight schools do not require background checks.

English Source:
http://www.canada.com/news/Smugglers+increasingly+using+helicopters+transport+drugs/2091961/story
.html

Deportations Surge 50 Percent in a Decade – 12 October 2009

Deportations from Canada have risen 50 percent over the past decade, according to figures from the
Canada Border Services Agency. The agency removed 12,732 people in 2008, mostly to the U.S. and
Mexico, compared to 8,361 in 1999. As of 25 August 2009, 8,999 people have already been deported this
year. Failed refugee claimants accounted for three-quarters of the deportations.

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English Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/deportations-surge-50-per-cent-in-a-

decade/article1321037/

REGIONAL AND TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

B.C. Marijuana Bumper Crop Means Large Drug Busts for RMCP – 12 October 2009

An ideal climate for growing marijuana over the past summer has correlated into large drug busts for
Canadian authorities. Recently, RMCP officers seized 14,130 plants from 88 sites around Nelson, British
Columbia. RMCP officers on Vancouver Island have seized close to 29,000 plants, a 25 percent increase
over 2008.

English Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/summer-boom-for-bc-

bud-means-big-time-drug-busts-for-rcmp/article1321197/

RMCP Break-up Cocaine Trafficking Operation in Northern Alberta – 15 October 2009

RMCP officers arrested a dozen suspects as they uncovered a large scale cocaine operation centered in
Fort McMurray, Alberta. A three-week investigation named Project Kwaint revealed organized crime
groups’ cocaine trafficking operations in the area. Authorities arrested the following suspects: Dylan
Richard HURLEY, Jesse James GAGNO, Joseph Victor TREMBLAY, Mitchell Alexander BRINSON,
Cody Thomas SLADE, Kimberly MACCUISH, Paul Michael MOSES, Catlin Burchell MOORES,
Nadena CHADI, Lucas John Frank BIDWELL, Craig William MCCANN, Benjamin Jason Joseph
RICARD. Police are still searching for Alberto ALCARADO and Tyson CUFF.

English Source: http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2121119

Montreal Mafia Controls 80 Percent of Road Contracts – 15 October 2009

A former Quebec Transport Ministry reported that the Montreal Mafia controls 80 percent of road
construction contracts in the province. The mafia allegedly colluded with Montreal construction
companies known as the ‘Fabulous Fourteen’ to fix bids for construction contracts. The collusion has
resulted in a 37 percent increase over the Canadian average to build roads in Quebec in 2008.

English Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/montreal-mafia-controls-80-per-cent-of-

road-contracts-whistleblower-says/article1325552/

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