https://betterdwelling.com/an-ultra...canadian-real-estate-to-launder-fintrac/Nigerian mafia in Canada
An “Ultra Violent Cult” Is Stealing Cars & Using Canadian Real Estate To Launder: FINTRAC
The crime syndicate entered Canada in 2003, according to the organization themselves. A FINTRAC analysis of transactions confirms operations began in early-2000s, though they didn’t land on law enforcement’s radar until 2013. They launched as the Black Axe Canada Zone, before forming Vancouver Zone later. Let’s gloss over the fact Vancouver is considered its own criminal jurisdiction.
Like most sophisticated transnational criminal organizations, they operate a diversified portfolio of crime. Drugs, human trafficking, document fraud, etc. — the list goes on, rivaling the Sicilian Mafia, Triads, or Cartel. Canada is a crowded market for organized crime, so the primary way to raise proceeds is more narrow. “The Black Axe in Canada is actively involved in large scale fraud and vehicle theft rings,” reads the report.
They aren’t exaggerating when they say “large scale.” Black Axe was found using a Romance Scam, catfishing people looking for love, at an epic scale. One Canadian member was involved in a $5 billion operation with victims across Canada and the US, that came to the attention of the FBI. That might not be news to the anti-fraud community, but the way the money is washed will be. We’ll come back to that.
Nearly 1 In 5 of The Group’s Suspicious Transactions In Canada Involved Real Estate
Canada is an extremely special place. Regardless of where you’re from or your religion, you’re welcome to use its world class laundry facilities. As the anti-corruption group OCCRP pointed out recently, Canada is more opaque than many tax havens. One expert even told them, “If organized crime were to create a country, it would look a lot like Canada.”
