23 August 2005
United States, Canada Dismantle Smuggling Organization
More than $4 million in counterfeit currency seized in undercover operations
Washington -- Two international undercover operations that targeted overseas smugglers have resulted in the dismantling of a criminal organization that sought to export counterfeit currency, drugs, weapons and other contraband to the United States, according to U.S. officials.
Operations Royal Charm and Smoking Dragon were the result of a long-term investigation targeting Asian criminal enterprises, and represented a coordinated effort between federal, state and local law enforcement officials in the United States with the cooperation of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Four and a half years ago, U.S. officials began an investigation into a cigarette-smuggling conspiracy involving Asian organized crime. However, as the undercover operations evolved, undercover agents unraveled a vast, highly organized international criminal enterprise.
As a result of the operations, 10 indictments have been handed down which charge a total of 87 people. Fifty-nine of these individuals were arrested in 11 cities in Canada and the United States during the weekend of August 19. The operations also resulted in the seizure of over $4 million in highly deceptive counterfeit currency, 36,000 Ecstasy pills, $700,000 in counterfeit U.S. postage stamps, hundred of thousands of dollars worth of counterfeit blue jeans and $10,000 in counterfeit Viagra.
The members of the smuggling operation were further charged with arms trafficking and with conspiracy to import more than $1 million in weapons. U.S. officials indicated that the group was also engaged in smuggling hundreds of millions of counterfeit cigarettes.
According to the indictments, the illegal materials were smuggled into the United States via cargo containers on container ships with falsified bills of lading. As part of the operations to dismantle the criminal organization, agents from the FBI had to pose as smugglers, arms traffickers, drug traffickers and organized crime associates, according to John Pistole, an FBI deputy director.
In an August 22 press conference announcing the results of the two undercover operations, acting Assistant Attorney General John Richter lauded the efforts as models of domestic and international cooperation.
"It's a story of true collaboration within the law enforcement community -- superb cooperation between federal, state, local and international law enforcement," he said. "On the international front in particular, I'd like to take a moment to thank our colleagues to the north, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, for their essential contributions in these investigations."
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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