The RCMP have arrested a man accused of duping Passport Canada
into issuing passports under fake names to some of Canada’s most
notorious criminal suspects, CBC has learned.
The RCMP alleges the passport fixer was aiding high-level cocaine
traffickers including the infamous Alkhalil brothers, one of whom is
wanted for two deadly shootings in Toronto and Vancouver.
“He was facilitating the obtaining of Canadian passports in exchange
for money,” said RCMP National Division Insp. Costa Dimopoulos, who told
CBC News that criminals are willing to spend $5,000 to $20,000 for a
genuine document issued under an assumed name.
Police charged Harbi Mohamoud (Dave)
Gabad last Friday with a string of passport and identity fraud offences
after the RCMP’s Sensitive and International Investigations Section
(SIIS) searched his Gatineau, Que., apartment looking for hard drives,
photos and other evidence.
Canadian passports are coveted by people in the criminal underworld, Dimopoulos said.
“It’s allowing you to move freely
internationally without fear of being captured.
It allows you the
ability to hide, essentially, from police.”
To date the RCMP have linked Gabad to 13 fraudulent passport
applications, including eight that were actually issued by Passport
Canada under assumed identities, according to search warrant documents
filed in court.
Source: CBC
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