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Foreign spy ring uncovered, report says

From Friday's Globe and Mail

Financial-intelligence agency says group illegally exported sensitive goods and engaged in millions of dollars worth of financial transactions ...Read the full article

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  1. Fake Name from Canada writes: Yeah, sanitizing the parts that identify which country was responsible really means a lot. We all know who engages in 99% of industrial espionage activity.

    I say arrest the agents, and feed 'em to the polar bears.
  2. Scrappy T from Canada writes: We seem to get so many news stories that are just 'sound bites'.
    After reading them you still don't really know anything. Surely we can be given more information.
  3. Alice Shiv In from Toronto, Canada writes: 'Fake Name from Canada' - I whole-heartedly agree. It is the same country responsible for: 1) recently lacing its wheat gluten and rice protein with poisonous Melamine in order to artificially raise the protein content of their product in order to qualify for export; 2) recently lacing their milk (raw, processed and dried) with poisonous Melamine in order to artificially raise its protein content order to qualify for export which resulted in more than 54,000 children being poisoned and hospitalized; 3) recently lacing counterfeit cough-syrup with poison - killing over 100 people in Panama; 4) recently lacing counterfeit Colgate toothpaste with poisonous Dyethylene Glycol (automotive antifreeze) and exporting it to dollar stores in the U.S. and Canada; 5) recently and deliberately poisoning 'holiday food' it exported to Japan and other countries; 6) producing Mr. Brown 3-in-1 Instant Coffee products distributed in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba that Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) tests revealed melamine levels three times as high as those that poisoned the 54,000 children cited in 2) above in a range of 900 to 1,100 parts per million, with the agency characterizing the health risk associated with the product as 'high'; 7) the exportation to the U.S. and Canada of frozen breaded shrimp awash with veterinary drugs; human catheters hidden amongst shipments of other listed products; latex surgical gloves with holes in them; Chinese-made dental supplies hidden amongst other listed products; crackers made with carcinogenic #5 yellow food dye; unsafe and defective microwave ovens (my personal favourite); wheat starch containing various poisons; frozen seasoned squid salad infected with Listeria; poisonous womens cosmetics; frozen diced red peppers awash with pesticides ( http://tinyurl.com/36mg2t ); 8) state-sponsored trafficking in children who are sold for as little as US $600 each. What country is this, you ask? CHINA
  4. Adam von Trott from Canada writes: Did they have Super-Spy, Poppy quarters on them?
  5. Alice Shiv In from Toronto, Canada writes:

    Here is the latest U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) List of Refused Products from China for the month of October 2008;

    'Dog Biscuit/Tree Ornament' complete with carcinogenic food colouring. Nothing says 'Merry Christmas' like 'I gave my dog cancer';

    ... or there's the 'CANDIED GLAZED HONEY PLUM' that aside from containing carcinogenic food colouring and being 'filthy', contained no less than 3 separate poisons: CYCLAMATE; SACCHARLBL; and DULCIN

    How about 'FROZEN BREADED SHRIMP' sauteed in veterinary drugs and carcinogenic Nitrofuran?;

    Here's a good one - 'PEAR JUICE CONCENTRATE' that's actually poisonous;

    Hey kids! How about brushing your teeth with 'TOOTHPASS' (toothpaste) laced with Salmonella;

    Not interested? Well then, what about 'PLEASURE PLUS LATEX CONDOMS, FOILED, LUBRICATED' for Mommy and Daddy? Oh that's right - they're full of holes;

    What's that? You're interested in losing weight? No problem - China has 'GERMENIUM SESQUIOXIDE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT' - guaranteed to lose ALL your weight because it's poisonous;

    Care for a 'CHOCOLATE BAR' containing melamine?;

    What about 'Double Chocolate Hot Chocolate Mix' that contains Melamine?;

    SOURCE: http://tinyurl.com/65rtu6
  6. Normand LaBine from Winnipeg, Canada writes: It got tabled along with the passport document leaks. No Minister spoke to it. Protecting Canadians is way off the radar. Benign Dictatorship my foot. It's pure cynicism. Hope the US finds that Canada is enabling terrorist financing with our slack controls.
  7. garlick toast from Canada writes: Is this going to turn into an ESL slagfest?
  8. Proud Huaren from Toronto, Canada writes:
    Alice Shiv In from Toronto, Canada writes:
    8) state-sponsored trafficking in children who are sold for as little as US $600 each.

    Do you even know what you talking about?? Where do you get your facts...National Enquirer?? Visit sites like Children's Bridge that actually do deal with adoptions. You mauy not be a racist, just ignorant.
  9. Jesu Pifco from Canada writes: Pssst,
    It was Pitcairn Island Intelligence Agency, ya blind kneejerks.
  10. Fake Name from Canada writes: Alice Shiv ... actually, I should retract the first comment. Instead of feeding the agents to hungry polar bears, hire the Couillard Twins to steal THEIR secrets. I bet we'd end up with plenty of fascinating documents.

    Winston and Terri, I don't think we have the kind of high-tech weapons the Mossad devote most of their interests to. If they randomly found something of industrial significance I'm sure they'd abscond with it, but they already have plenty of industrial innovation of their own to rely on.
  11. Fake Name from Canada writes: Jesu Pifco: no, no, it was Sealand.
  12. John Deriso from Calgary, Canada writes: I wish there was an 'ignore user' feature that let you just not see posts from the users that feel the need to make 45 posts in one story just to get their point across. They never have anything useful to say. Most other sites that allow commenting have useful features like this. Perhaps the G&M; website should implement a moderation system like Slashdot has to keep things more or less on topic and keep the lunatics from taking a whole page to say nothing.
  13. Linda Dial from Canada writes: Hello? Which nation is Harper's favourite bugbear? I will give a hint. It starts with a C. Some people think it's Israel? I don't think so. What could the Israelis find here that is sensitive that they didn't already invent by themselves or already make by themselves? Canada probably buys from them.
  14. Winston Churchill from London, Canada writes: Fake Name. Au contraire. We have exactly the type of high tech weapons they are interested in. Israel's stock in trade isn't high tech platforms (those they buy from the Americans), but in the components. They are the Fonzies of the aircraft world. Souping up things to do what they were never intended to do. Guess who makes many of the best components, especially of the electronic warfare super-high tech variety?
  15. Winston Churchill from London, Canada writes: Apologies. I wrote 'buy'. I meant 'get', 'receive', 'take delivery of'.
  16. D Thompson from Canada writes: My bet is that it was Iran.
  17. Richard Swenson from Canada writes: Good to know they got this big coalition of terrorists and money-launderers.
  18. Job of the book from Canada writes: just a thought... if we're printing that a Canadian has infiltrated a spy ring... isn't there a good chance that spy ring might pick up the paper and go 'you know... that new recruit did seem kinda fishy....'?

    Juts a though. Maybe NOT letting the enemy know of our every move would be a good idea.
  19. andrei de souza from Canada writes: 'PNGed?' How very Canadian. Might as well advertise around the world to come to Canada if you want to steal. Crime does pay kids! Just make sure you do it in Canada. You can steal, shoot someone in the head, run them over in your car. Penalties are a joke, and you grow up knowing it.
  20. globefan Eh from Canada writes: So why is it sanitized? If it happened and can stand scrutiny, why is it sanitised?
  21. Patrick Nash from Canada writes: No, it wasn't the mounties or, for that matter, some obscure government agency as the G & M would have you believe. For those interested, FINTRAC is the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada and is a specialized agency created to collect, analyze and disclose financial information and intelligence on suspected money laundering and terrorist activities financing. It even has its own website that clearly tells you who it is, what it does, what the anti-money laundering requirements are per business activity and even lists telephone numbers and contact addresses: http://www.fintrac-canafe.gc.ca/intro-eng.asp
  22. j.e. bligh from Victoria, Canada writes: No arrest????
    It's quite possible that the guilty(?) country and Canada have an unstated agreement that each country will treat the others' similarly when caught. And of course Canada has spies, and of course they occasionly get caught. So the powers that be would want our folks back home with a minimum of fuss.
    After all, what agency would like our population to know that we also have some 'bad guys'. But then there are the high level cases where an exchange is arranged, often to the benefit of both.
    I found an old case from the cold war to be hillareous if it wasn't sad in a way. An RCMP officer infiltrated a group of communists and quickly became trusted and began to work his way up the ranks, so to speak. After a couple of years he was elected the head of that particular group with contact with other groups here in Canada. Picture this.....An undercover RCMP finds himself to be the 'boss' of a communist group and had to come up with (illegal) activities for them to be involved in. Canada never did declare the Communist Party to be illegal.
  23. Stan Consultant from Canada writes: I certainly hope spies posted to Canada are given extra hazard pay, or some kind of compensation to keep them from dying of boredom.
  24. Northern Princess from Canada writes: After reading this article, my question was '... and this is news?'.

    Where did Ian Flemming's James Bond come from ... of course, spy stories didn't just start with his books. Spying existed way back when.

    Were there no spies when Ford created his first car? Were there no spies when the Wright Brothers created their first plane? Were there no spies when Alexander Graham Bell created the first telephone? Or how about when penicillin was invented or other medical marvel? Of course, with technology there came much more spies. Even in Governments there are spies.

    Some may think I'm exagerating but hey, think about it. Listening devices (bugs as they are known) didn't just start with Get Smart. They are so fine now, that they can be a fiber in curtains.

    So what else is new? I'm sure Al-Quaeda is ROFLTAO as they have their own, plus the satelites to keep them up-to-date on news events around the world. Sheesh!

    I guess reporters must think that some canadians are pretty naive.
  25. james rawn from CAMELOT, Canada writes: Just another example of how unprepared Canada is to the New World we live in.

    Alice in Toronto is right to point out the most likely candidate to these constant activities. As the Dragon slithers it's way across the ocean, preparing to devour our children, the incompitent governments that rule, sit idly by. The current practice of allowing 250,000 New Comers per year is just inviting trouble.

    As for the Keystone cops, once internationaly respected, they just are a shadow of the their proud history. They would rather assist some other country detain and torture our citizens than deal with the real threat.

    If we could just bolster our armed forces by a canoe or two, we may be able to 'stand on guard for thee', but with a lame duck Prime Minister, and Curly, Larry, Moe, plotting their next move, it's hard to imagine anyone in Canada feeling secure.
  26. benjamin barr from Canada writes: NOT SUPRISED, IT HAPPENS IN EVERY COUNTRY
  27. REV eighteenseventeen from Canada writes: james rawn from CAMELOT- New world. NOT! There is nothing new under the sun. You seem to have been listening to the Bushites. Famines, pestilence, wars and rumours of wars. Nothing new, just the beginning of sorrows.
  28. Paul Thompson from Canada writes: All spies should be locked up and forced to listen to Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Her Lilithness Sarah M, and maybe Anne Murray and Loverboy for good measure. The prospect of such torture ought to deter all but the most determined practitioners of espionage. It would scare the hell out of me, that's for sure.
  29. REV eighteenseventeen from Canada writes: D Thompson from Canada- I don't think it was Iran. Read the article again you will see where the greatest concern lies.
  30. Robin Adams from Ottawa, Canada writes: The timing of this 'announcement is' ... suspicious. An unspecified and unverifiable 'threat' at a moment when the government is pulling out all the stops to drum up support for itself. Being naturally suspicious, born and raised in Ottawa I've also developed a high degree of cynicism.

    I think the story is a media plant by the government.

    Either that or the department is facing budget cuts and feels the need to justify its existence.
  31. Keith Duguay from writes: I would love to know what strategic advantage it gives us to not arrest these spies? I bet there's not a whole lot of them operating in the US right now unless they're patriotic enough to endure a few years at Gitmo. You know what I mean? This has got to make us a target. Unless the opposite is true: they don't report who it was or what happened to them becuase we give them a Canadian good-bye, a permanent one.
  32. Nicholas Fok from Richmond Hill, Canada writes: I believed 'C' country must steal our spaceship technology, missile technology, submarine technology, fighter jet technology, auto technology and many more. I never know 'C' country has any of those. I do not like my country only manufacture for other country and not develop their own technology. This is great news for all Canadian.
  33. Michael Rudin from United States writes: Many writing in G&M; complain about free press in the US, but we learned from the press about Gitmo and many other things. Because this information is not released all we see here is speculation. The US does have some free press problems, but to keep information like this that involves military secrecy, much seems to be financial and industrial espionage from the very public that may be affected seems contrary to a free press and the publics right to know.
  34. don river from Toronto, Canada writes: Goodness, who knew that Mossad is so active in Canada?
  35. John Doucette from Manotick, Canada writes: To don river from Toronto: Sorry Don but its not Mossad, its actually the CIA. This whole thing is a grievous error since most of the 'spies' referred to in the secret report are actually CSIS and RCMP officers and a few Tory and Liberal politicians and advisors. Don't worry, it news item will go away quickly, so will the disgruntled, Canadian nationalist author. Under NAFTA this is a protected trade item for the U.S. side.
  36. Akbar M from Regina, Canada writes: I don't understand why this is all kept secret? If it's criminal activity why no prosecutions? This kind of non-action just encourages this behaviour I should think. So these agents get sent home to pillage some other country's secrets?
  37. gordon davies from Victoria B.C., Canada writes: This crime syndicate being uncovered , FINE , but we don't hear of any jail time , other than slaps to the wrist. It seems that some in high places ,or dirty corners , cant be touched & don't miss much of a beat.
  38. James O'Keefe from Toronto, Canada writes: “What I deplore here is how come we don't have prosecution?” said Michel Juneau-Katsuya. -- Gotta agree with that. As another poster said - crime does pay in Canada - zero deterrent -- huge payoffs will no risks involved.
  39. Naomi Y from Canada writes: Under all the layers of murk, however, there seems to be an unnamed Canadian front company, one that ostensibly traded in industrial machinery but has dealt with suspicious foreign entities, according to the report.
    ---------------------------------
    How about the $35 million is to pay for the machinery that they actually purchased??

    Spiting a large sum of money into many small payment will attract suspicion the most. That's how spitzer get caught paying for hookers.

    I don't know why they release this news when they have to withhold so many information. Maybe becoz some PM became lame duck?
  40. West Coast from Canada writes: A lot more information in this article:

    http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2008/04/c7016.html

    FINTRAC produces financial intelligence to assist investigations that
    deal with complex transactions related to drugs, fraud and organized crime as well as terrorist activity financing and other threats to the security of Canada.
  41. White Jade from Ireland writes: ATTENTION G&M; MODERATORS: Would you review the Criminal Code of Canada, Section 319 together with all the repetitive, malicious, Chinese hate posts of 'Alice Shiv In' and his multitude of disguises over the past year for violations and prosecution.

    Wilful promotion of hatred
    (2) Every one who, by communicating statements, other than in private conversation, wilfully promotes hatred against any identifiable group is guilty of
    (a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years; or
    (b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.
  42. Roman Spears from St. Catharines, Canada writes:

    daniel saliken from nanaimo, Canada writes: Sounds like the mounties or some such agency are doing a good job. Lets not forget to applaud their effort.

    ***

    Yes, once in a while the mounties do get their man, or woman. The people who got the results should be applauded.

    While we are on the topic of speculating who has done this, lets not fail to consider KAOS or SPECTRE. They seem to be everywhere.
  43. Susan Rogan from Canada writes: "Something happened but you can't know what." So, what is the point of this article? Maybe to get us to demand to know what is going on.
  44. Jim Baribault from Ottawa, Canada writes: Of course lots of inuendo about which country this report is referring to but the last eight years should leaves little doubt what country (countries) the article refers to. The definition or spy or terrorist by CSIS and their American buddies means are they willing or not to toe the American line.

    It is so boring because most Canadians can read between the lines and know that legitimate business can be twisted and described as spying or terrorism if enough money and spin in used in any situation
  45. pik scott from Canada writes: Years and years of liberal rule has created this mess.
  46. James O'Keefe from Toronto, Canada writes: White Jade - truth hurts eh?
  47. Ali Addo from GTA, Canada writes: Hi Guys,

    You mean the chinese are spying on canadian 'technologies'?

    Are you serious?

    I wonder what they ended up with.

    Maybe a secret recipe of Maple Syrup?
  48. R H from Canada writes: 'Mr. Juneau-Katsuya said that as a CSIS agent in the late 1990s, he investigated a scheme by Iranian agents to export ceramic piping that could be used for nuclear reactors. '

    Yah right. Convenient that it is one of the things he remembers so outright. Gee, I wonder what else ceramic pipe could be used for. Naw, you go ahead and google it.
    Did he forget about the PROMIS software debacle. Oh, that's right, our mainstream media doesn't want to talk about that one.
    Other than that, the article is a waste of space.
  49. Joe Little from Cowtown Calgary, Canada writes: Mr. MacKay announced there were 1000 (no one more and no one less) Chinese spies in Canada when he became the first Foreign minister of the current corrupted government of Banana (Canada). More than two years passed haven't heard single news catched even one. One can conclude either CSIS or RCMP doing nothing in last two years - they even can not catch one out of 1000 in over two years. Or someone made up the story to distort the real issues.
  50. Michael Soft from Demokratic People's Republik of Kanada (aka North Kanada), Canada writes: You mean the chinese are spying on canadian 'technologies'? I wonder what they ended up with. Maybe a secret recipe of Maple Syrup?
  51. greg fayle from Canada writes: My two cents...if it was any nation other than Israel than they would have named it.
  52. Toxic Planet from nuclear meltdown USA, Canada writes:
    Reminds me of a eternally funny comic...spy VS spy, the silly stupid games never end.
  53. Fake Name from Canada writes: " Nicholas Fok from Richmond Hill, Canada writes: I believed 'C' country must steal our spaceship technology, missile technology, submarine technology, fighter jet technology, auto technology and many more."

    We don't have spaceship technology or submarine technology. That fighter jet technology we do have is twenty-five years old and bought directly from the US; the inner workings of an F-18 are probably no secret to anyone by now.
  54. Fake Name from Canada writes: "White Jade from Ireland writes: ATTENTION G&M; MODERATORS: Would you review the Criminal Code of Canada, Section 319 together with all the repetitive, malicious, Chinese hate posts of 'Alice Shiv In' and his multitude of disguises over the past year for violations and prosecution."

    No, no, no. Alice isn't promoting hate against Chinese people, she / he is expressing natural displeasure with their government's habit of stealing industrial and military information from other countries. It's somewhat pointless to moralize since everyone engages in some degree of espionage, but certainly not a criminal code offense.
  55. White Jade from Ireland writes: Ho-hum, in the next few days there will be another article where CSIS or FINTRAC is asking for more taxpayers money to fight this alleged assault on our security - this is just a warm-up to incite the neo-con base and prepare them for the budget request.

    Exactly the same message appeared in 2006, which in turn referenced a 2004 CSIS report. You fools are so easily manipulated.
    http://tinyurl.com/mtlgazette
  56. MR. oz from Canada writes: The chinese had thousands upon thousands of industrial spies in the European countries the USA and Canda stealing anything they were able to copy and sell to us in a crappy reproduction! And we let them do it! I always try not to buy anything made in China or made in the orient. I buy goods made in Canada, The USA or in Europe and in that order!

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