According to a recently obtained financial intelligence report, criminals and organized crime appeared to have "knowingly and actively" defrauded the Canada emergency response benefit (CERB) and Canada emergency business account (CEBA) programs. Launched in March, the CERB originally paid $2,000 a month to Canadians whose income took a hit due to the pandemic. (THE CANADIAN PRESS)The report also said payments were sent to people who appear to have been engaged in illegal or suspicious financial activity. Those are countries and areas that FINTRAC views as posing a higher money laundering or terrorist financing risk. FINTRAC, which helps police detect money laundering and the financing of terrorist activities, calls money laundering a "multibillion-dollar problem" in Canada.

Source: CBC News November 12, 2021 13:30 UTC