RCMP arrest 15 in alleged international money laundering scheme

MONTREAL — The RCMP and other police forces arrested 15 people Monday in a series of raids in Montreal and Toronto targeting what investigators say is an extensive international money laundering network with ties to organized crime.

The RCMP, working with the Canada Revenue Agency, began the probe dubbed “Collector” in 2016 and wrapped it up last spring before launching raids Monday at around 6 a.m. More than 300 RCMP officers in Ontario and Quebec took part in Monday’s operation, aided by officers from the Montreal, Laval and Toronto police forces.

RCMP Cpl. Genevieve Byrne said the raids — which involved 11 search warrants in Montreal and Toronto — continued throughout the day. Byrne said the warrants target 19 people, but only 15 had been arrested.

The four others being sought are Victor Vargotskii, 56, of Montreal, Mohamad Jaber, 51, of Laval, Que., Frederick Rayman, 71, of Toronto and Francisco Javier Jimenez Guerrero, 35, whose place of residence is not known.

RCMP Sgt. Luc Thibault said Monday’s operation “targets individuals who facilitated the collection of money from criminal groups in Montreal and laundered the proceeds of their illicit activities.” He said in an interview that most of the money was drug-related, but would not give details about the network’s operations.

Thibault also declined to say what other countries were involved in the network or where the allegedly laundered money ended up. The RCMP has scheduled a news conference to provide more details Tuesday in Montreal.

Thibault said the suspects arrested Monday were transported for detention in Laval, just north of Montreal.