TORONTO -- The RCMP have made an arrest in what they alleged on Sunday was an attempt to sell classified information to China on Canada's plans to build warships and icebreakers.
"In these types of cases, sharing of information may give a foreign entity a tactical, military or competitive advantage by knowing the specifications of vessels,'' Jennifer Strachan, Chief Supt. RCMP criminal operations Ontario, told a news conference.
A suspect, Qing Quentin Huang, 53, is charged under the Security of Information Act with two counts of attempting to communicate classified information to a foreign entity.
The information involved elements of Canada's Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy, Strachan said. The strategy involves plans to build patrol ships, frigates, naval auxiliary vessels, science research vessels and icebreakers.
The suspect was arrested Saturday in Burlington, Ont., and appeared in court Sunday. He'll be held in custody until a bail hearing on Wednesday.
Police first learned of the situation on Thursday and were able to act swiftly to safeguard the information involved, Strachan said.
''We are confident our prompt and firm intervention has limited the damage to our collective safety and security,'' Strachan said.
"In these types of cases, sharing of information may give a foreign entity a tactical, military or competitive advantage by knowing the specifications of vessels,'' Jennifer Strachan, Chief Supt. RCMP criminal operations Ontario, told a news conference.
A suspect, Qing Quentin Huang, 53, is charged under the Security of Information Act with two counts of attempting to communicate classified information to a foreign entity.
The information involved elements of Canada's Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy, Strachan said. The strategy involves plans to build patrol ships, frigates, naval auxiliary vessels, science research vessels and icebreakers.
The suspect was arrested Saturday in Burlington, Ont., and appeared in court Sunday. He'll be held in custody until a bail hearing on Wednesday.
Police first learned of the situation on Thursday and were able to act swiftly to safeguard the information involved, Strachan said.
''We are confident our prompt and firm intervention has limited the damage to our collective safety and security,'' Strachan said.
Read the RCMP's press release below:
Toronto, December 1, 2013 - This morning, the RCMP along with partners from the Toronto Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police detailed circumstances that led to the arrest of 53 year old Qing Quentin Huang of Toronto. Mr. Huang has been charged under the Security of Information Act with two counts of attempt to communicate to a foreign entity information that the Government of Canada is taking measures to safeguard.
On Thursday, November 28, 2013, the RCMP was informed that Mr Huang was taking steps to pass sensitive information to authorities from the People’s Republic of China. The information relates to certain elements of the Government of Canada National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy which includes patrol ships, frigates, naval auxiliary vessels, science research vessels and ice breakers. “In these types of cases, sharing of information may give a foreign entity a tactical, military or competitive advantage by knowing the specifications of vessels responsible for defending Canadian waters and Canadian sovereignty,” stated RCMP Chief Superintendent Jennifer Strachan, the Criminal Operations Officer for the Province of Ontario.
From the moment the RCMP was informed of the criminal nature of the actions, it initiated a Criminal Investigation dubbed Project Seascape. “National Security Investigations are complex and this one was no different,” added RCMP Chief Superintendent Larry Tremblay, Director General of the RCMP’s Federal Policing Criminal Operations in Ottawa. “It is important to understand that there is more to National Security than focusing solely on terrorism. It’s about protecting Canadian interests and taking the steps we need to take to protect our sovereignty.”
The RCMP and its partners take all threats to National Security and our sovereignty seriously. Indeed, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service provided excellent cooperation in this investigation. The public is always encouraged to bring any suspicious activities to the RCMP’s attention through the National Security Information Network (1-800-420-5805) or by contacting the police in their community.