Canada still a “major money laundering country” in 2013 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report on AML

The 2013 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (“INCSR“) published this month by the U.S. Department of State, particularly volume I on the drug trafficking trade, is more favourable of Canada than the last two years, primarily as a result of the enactment in Canada of the Omnibus Crime Bill C-10, know as the Safe Streets and [...]

Supreme Court of Canada upholds terrorism conviction and sentence of life imprisonment

Yesterday, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed an appeal by convicted terrorist Mohammed Khawaja from a decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal that upheld his conviction for terrorism under the Anti-Terrorism Act and had imposed a sentence of life imprisonment plus 24 years on Khawaja for his crimes.

Supreme Court of Canada dismisses extradition appeal of alleged terrorist financier

In what is seen as a positive move in support of Canada’s anti-terrorism laws and extradition law for terrorism and money laundering charges, the Supreme Court of Canada today refused an appeal by Suresh Sriskandarajah from the Ontario Court of Appeal upholding an order for his extradition to the United States to face charges of [...]

U.S. Attorney files complaint against Lebanese Canadian Bank in trade-based money laundering case

The U.S. Attorney has filed a money laundering complaint commencing an in rem forfeiture action against the Lebanese Canadian Bank and others, seeking penalties of US$446 million in connection with what it says was a money laundering scheme operated by the Bank. The action is one of the first trade-based money laundering cases. As part of the alleged [...]

Two Somali foreign nationals in the US convicted of terrorist financing

Two Somali women, who became US naturalized citizens, were convicted today in federal court in Minnesota of terrorist financing for providing material support to al-Shabaab, a listed terrorist entity in both the US and Canada. The two women collected funds from Somali foreign nationals in Canada and the US during a three year period and [...]

Federal Court upholds Harkat’s security certificate because of links to terrorism

The Federal Court of Canada has ruled that a security certificate declaring Mohammed Harkat inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act is valid because Mr. Harkat’s ties to terrorist organizations pose a danger to the security of Canada. Harkat’s security certificate is the first to be upheld in Canada. The Court found that [...]

New York resident indicted for hawala activities in attempted Times Square bombing

The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York today announced the filing of an indictment (Download Younis Indictment) charging Mohammad Younis with operating an unlicensed money transfer business that allegedly facilitated the attempted car bombing in New York City's Time Square on May 1, 2010. According to the indictment, Younis provided money transmitting services [...]