CBC News has uncovered a sophisticated human smuggling network capable of producing highly convincing fake Canadian passports, raising significant national security concerns.
The forged passports mimic security features and electronic chips of Canadian passports issued between 2013 and 2023, making them nearly indistinguishable from genuine documents. A Montreal man, Garrison Ray, faces multiple human smuggling charges and is believed to be connected to a network with global reach.
The RCMP-led investigation, dubbed “Project Octopus,” uncovered evidence of forged Canadian passports, visas, and documents from European Union countries. The network allegedly involved embassy insiders in Canada, US, France, and Mexico, highlighting the sophisticated nature of the operation.
Kelly Sunberg, a former Canada Border Services Agency officer and current criminology professor, described the forgeries as “incredibly impressive” and unlike anything he had seen in his career. The federal department of immigration stated that security upgrades in new Canadian passports unveiled in 2023 make the document one of the most secure in the world.
This case underscores the ongoing challenges in maintaining border security and the need for constant vigilance and technological advancements in document verification processes.