CTV News Montreal

Updated: Wed Nov. 25 2009 3:52:03 PM

ctvmontreal.ca

The RCMP says 29 people from Quebec and Ontario have been arrested in a massive police operation to dismantle what authorities are calling a sophisticated counterfeiting ring.

"It's a highly sophisticated counterfeiting and fraud network, counterfeiting false documents, credit cards and IDs including false passports and false driving licenses," RCMP Cpl. Caroline Letang told ctvmontreal.ca.

The alleged fraudulent operation was based in several locations, including three Montreal daycare centres.

As many as 400 officers including detectives from the RCMP, Montreal police and the Surete du Quebec raided 39 locations in Montreal, Toronto and nearby Markham, Ont.

Police are still searching for three male suspects believed to be connected to the fabrication of the false documents:

• Bali Meta, 42-years-old
• Adel Haddad, 49-years-old
• Ali Ballout, 29-years-old

Lengthy investigation

The criminal investigation began in 2006 after police were called to the office of a Montreal business that was experiencing flooding. There they found documents related to the alleged counterfeiting outfit.

Sgt. Luc Bessette says police found no links between the alleged counterfeiters and terrorists or any known organized crime groups.

But he conceded that some of the fake documents -- including passports -- remained in circulation and that police didn't know how many were out there.

"Bad surprise" for parents

Confused parents arrived at a daycare in east-end Riviere-des-Prairies on Wednesday morning to find that the facility was shut down while police raided the premises.

Parents say that the daycare has been open for years and was well-established in the neighbourhood.

"I'm pretty shocked because they looked like very honest people," parent Myriam Godard told CTV's Paul Karwatsky.

"They have always been kind to my daughter."

The centre was put under new ownership a year ago but the owner had not been arrested as of Wednesday morning.

"A bad surprise for the parents who arrived here," Montreal police spokesman Ian Lafreniere said outside the daycare on Riviere-des-Prairies Blvd.

Police were also combing through two home daycares in Montreal North.

Officers were stationed at all three locations Wednesday morning to reassure parents that the raids are not related to sexual misconduct. They say the children were never in any danger.

With files from The Canadian Press

Comments are now closed for this story

greg
in reference to Todd's responce, you don't think running a crimminal activity in a chikdren's setting is not putting them in harms way, good thing smart guys like you are not making decisions that affect us all.

Big Papa
I only wish we had a turkish like prison where you lock them up and throw away the key.

Unfortunately our justice (and prison system) is a farce.

Tim
I find it disgusting that they did this under a daycare, where if one gang decided to retaliate against another, the kids would be in the crossfire.

But the way the justice system is in Canada, its just a big joke and they will get off doing 1/3 of their light sentence.

RVH
To run it under a daycare is terrible Todd. It was a ploy to look like all is fine in shangri-la. Yes the kids were in no harm, but what's to say something could have.

bob
This comment is in response to Todd's critique of Greg.

Are you really that naive, and or foolish Todd.

Any criminal activity of the size, and scope that is being reported involves criminal gang activity. Criminal gangs are directly responsible for most of the deaths being reported in Canada's major urban areas. If you doubt this check out the problems in Vancouver.

The criminals involved in thid fraud were without any doubt "hiding" behind these children.

I find it difficult to believe that the operators of these "day-cares" were unaware of the activities around them, and should be charged with criminal endangerment.

Rollie
God some people are stupid!

If by chance things went horribly wrong, rival criminal organization ever confronted these scumbags head-on...I have to wonder if any guns would show up!?!?!?

Of course the kids were in incredibly potential danger!

Roger T
What our society needs is a VERY STRICT laws and punishments for dangerous criminals. Nevermind those stupid and kiddy laws that make our country look loike fools who run the country. Try laws from Asia which makes people think twice before acting.

todd
this comments in response to Greg's comment :

children weren't in any danger , read and understand the article before u make foolish comments . It was a fraud network raid ......... nothing to do with kids

J.W.
Just like I saw on a comedy show last night, will be a 'catch and release' thing for these crooks. Your record is worse if you miss credit card or mortgage payments than commiting fraud or any other crime.

Our criminal code period is a comedy act, why do you think criminals come here? To set up fraud shops, meth labs, grow ups, gang organizations.

PROTECTING THE GUILTY, NOT THE INNOCENT

greg
crime and theft are one thing,but to have these scumbags doing it under our childrens guise,i hope these lowlifes get the worst judgement against them, we need tougher justice in Canada when it comes to putting our children in harms way.