Crime-ring suspects investigated by tax agency

Dozens of alleged members of a crime ring with Mafia connections who were arrested by police in Quebec this weekare alsobeing investigated by the federal tax department.

Seven Canada Revenue Agency employees had been working with police on the investigation since May 2005, according to agencyinvestigator Denis Meunier.

He said the agency plans to collect taxes on any undeclared revenue, made legally or illegally.

"We did put a lien on two houses, as well as bank accounts and investments," pending any possible tax charges, said Meunier.

He added: "We seized roughly $2.5 million in assets residences, bank accounts as well as investments. And we identified about $4.4 million in undeclared revenue."

So far, 73 suspects have been arrested and more than 1,000 charges have been laid in the police's Project Colise. The revenue agency executed 24 search warrants in conjunction withWednesday's police raids.

Police arelooking for 17 other suspects.

Two of the suspectsfacing charges of conspiring to import cocaine into Canada are customs agents. The Canada Border Services Agency joined the police operation as early as 2003.

"The minute we had rumours of doubt that some employees might be involved in corruption, we took appropriate action," said agency spokesman Jean-Paul Bergeron.

With the collaboration of agents with the CBSA, the crime ring was allegedly able to run a steady stream of cocaine shipments from Venezuela and Haiti, in what RCMP Insp. Michel Aubin called a "continuous operation.

"The organization gave [drug] couriers passes from customs and excise so that they could cross the border without any problem."

Thirty-eight people face charges relating to the alleged cocaine smuggling at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, including current and former airport employees who worked for the CBSA and for food services.

Police are still searching for a CBSA agent who remained at large Thursday evening.