Terrorism Charge Laid for Exporting Firearms Parts

Montreal – July 13, 2012 – After contravening section 3 of the Regulations Implementing the United Nations Resolution on Lebanon and being charged in October 2011 for exporting firearms parts to Lebanon, 26-year-old Mouna Diab of Laval is facing a new charge under section 83.2 of the Criminal Code. The investigation, dubbed Project “Sagittaire” and led by the RCMP C-Division Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) in Montreal, revealed that Diab allegedly committed offences for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with Hizballah, a listed terrorist entity in Canada since December 10, 2002.

In February 2011, the C-Division INSET, notably composed of the RCMP, Sûreté du Québec and Service de police de la Ville de Montréal, initiated an investigation into the purchase of AR-15-type firearms parts in the Montreal area. Based on the investigation, it is alleged that Mouna Diab was purchasing these firearms parts to then export them to Lebanon.

It is alleged that Diab was acting under the direction of a contact person in Lebanon who is associated with Hizballah. She was arrested on May 19, 2011 at Montreal Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau Airport, where police discovered certain firearms parts in her luggage. Based on gathered evidence it is also alleged that she was shipping firearms parts through people in her community travelling to Lebanon. The victims were unaware of the contents of the packages they were carrying for the accused.

The RCMP wants to remind all travelers to be cautious if asked by a third party to carry contents that are unknown. Travelers intercepted with illicit items risk serious criminal charges in Canada or abroad.

The RCMP has the mandate to investigate activities of terrorist groups in Canada such as Hizballah, a group that is primarily involved in logistics and operational support activities and fundraising destined for terrorist purposes overseas. In doing so, the RCMP plays a crucial role in reducing threats posed to national security, whether they are in Canada or elsewhere in the world.

RCMP-led INSETs across Canada are made up of representatives of the RCMP, federal partners and agencies such as Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and provincial and municipal police services. Through shared federal, provincial and municipal resources, the INSET members are better able to track and put a stop to the criminal activities of terrorist groups or individuals who pose a threat to Canada’s national security.

Through these efforts, the men and women of the RCMP and their INSET partners take all threats to national security seriously and remain committed to the protection of Canada and its allies through hard work, dedication and perseverance in their investigations. The RCMP is grateful for the valuable assistance of other domestic and international policing and law enforcement partners, which has been instrumental to the success of this investigation.

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For information:

Royal Canadian Mounted Police
514-939-8308

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