Zak Vescera
@zakvescera.bsky.social
Reporter covering financial crime in Vancouver for @theijf.org. Ink-stained wretch, cautiously optimistic EN/FR. zak.vescera@theijf.org
MS-13 is trying to launder money in Canada. Intelligence agencies have evidence the gang's members have opened accounts at Canadian banks. Stopping it is a whole other question.
theijf.org/ms-13-money-...
theijf.org/ms-13-money-...
MS-13 seeking to launder money through Canada, report says
Briefing hints Canadian banks have dropped clients with links to cartel
theijf.org
November 21, 2025 at 6:15 PM
MS-13 is trying to launder money in Canada. Intelligence agencies have evidence the gang's members have opened accounts at Canadian banks. Stopping it is a whole other question.
theijf.org/ms-13-money-...
theijf.org/ms-13-money-...
B.C. asked the federal government two years ago to start tracking potential money laundering in the province's fishing industry. They didn't. Now internal intelligence briefings warn the sector could be awash in dirty cash.
theijf.org/bc-fintrac-f...
theijf.org/bc-fintrac-f...
B.C. asked feds to crack down on potential money laundering in fishing sector
Federal fishing licenses allegedly being sold to wash dirty cash
theijf.org
November 17, 2025 at 9:24 PM
B.C. asked the federal government two years ago to start tracking potential money laundering in the province's fishing industry. They didn't. Now internal intelligence briefings warn the sector could be awash in dirty cash.
theijf.org/bc-fintrac-f...
theijf.org/bc-fintrac-f...
Today: Canada compensated 4,000 people who claim they developed illnesses after being exposed to Agent Orange during U.S. military testing — and rejected claims from nearly 3,000 others
theijf.org/agent-orange...
theijf.org/agent-orange...
Canada compensated thousands of people for Agent Orange exposure, rejected thousands more
The Canadian government may have paid $80 million to people exposed to the herbicide and chemical weapon during testing in the 1960s
theijf.org
November 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Today: Canada compensated 4,000 people who claim they developed illnesses after being exposed to Agent Orange during U.S. military testing — and rejected claims from nearly 3,000 others
theijf.org/agent-orange...
theijf.org/agent-orange...
Canada issued a record $177m penalty to a Vancouver cryptocurrency exchange
But it probably won't be able to collect it. The company's addresses in Canada appear to be false. And it continues to operate from Lithuania, where I tracked it down
theijf.org/canada-crypt...
But it probably won't be able to collect it. The company's addresses in Canada appear to be false. And it continues to operate from Lithuania, where I tracked it down
theijf.org/canada-crypt...
Canada unlikely to collect $177M penalty against Vancouver crypto company, experts say
Cryptomus has no staff in Canada, continues to operate from Lithuania
theijf.org
November 5, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Canada issued a record $177m penalty to a Vancouver cryptocurrency exchange
But it probably won't be able to collect it. The company's addresses in Canada appear to be false. And it continues to operate from Lithuania, where I tracked it down
theijf.org/canada-crypt...
But it probably won't be able to collect it. The company's addresses in Canada appear to be false. And it continues to operate from Lithuania, where I tracked it down
theijf.org/canada-crypt...
Reposted by Zak Vescera
This Saturday, the IJF took home the RTDNA Canada award for overall digital excellence. It’s our third award win for Open By Default, the IJF’s database of internal government records.
zurl.co/J9mxt
#RTDNACanada #independentjournalism
zurl.co/J9mxt
#RTDNACanada #independentjournalism
November 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM
This Saturday, the IJF took home the RTDNA Canada award for overall digital excellence. It’s our third award win for Open By Default, the IJF’s database of internal government records.
zurl.co/J9mxt
#RTDNACanada #independentjournalism
zurl.co/J9mxt
#RTDNACanada #independentjournalism
doing a background check on a possible financial criminal and inhaling sharply when I find out they're a virgo
October 29, 2025 at 7:25 PM
doing a background check on a possible financial criminal and inhaling sharply when I find out they're a virgo
Reposted by Zak Vescera
TC Energy pushed CSIS to create an intel-sharing group including the spy agency, RCMP and corporations worth more than $500 million. Former CSIS director David Vigneault, a "dear friend" of Business Council of Canada president, appeared to support the idea. New from me and @zakvescera.bsky.social
Documents reveal TC Energy pressured Canada for ‘private, high-level’ access to spy agency intelligence, a move critics worry could chill legitimate protest. via @writermjs.bsky.social and @zakvescera.bsky.social thenarwhal.ca/tc-energy-cs...
TC Energy lobbied Canada’s spy agency to share intelligence | The Narwhal
Pipeline giant TC Energy urged CSIS to brief Canada’s biggest companies on security threats — raising concerns about surveillance
thenarwhal.ca
October 23, 2025 at 5:52 PM
TC Energy pushed CSIS to create an intel-sharing group including the spy agency, RCMP and corporations worth more than $500 million. Former CSIS director David Vigneault, a "dear friend" of Business Council of Canada president, appeared to support the idea. New from me and @zakvescera.bsky.social
Canada's spy agency now shares intelligence with corporations thanks to a behind-the-scenes push from a major pipeline company
Done with @writermjs.bsky.social and the amazing folks at @thenarwhal.ca
theijf.org/tce-csis-lob...
Done with @writermjs.bsky.social and the amazing folks at @thenarwhal.ca
theijf.org/tce-csis-lob...
Canada’s spy agency now shares intel with corporations — thanks to a push from TC Energy
Canada’s biggest corporations successfully lobbied the federal government to enable access to sensitive intelligence information
theijf.org
October 23, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Canada's spy agency now shares intelligence with corporations thanks to a behind-the-scenes push from a major pipeline company
Done with @writermjs.bsky.social and the amazing folks at @thenarwhal.ca
theijf.org/tce-csis-lob...
Done with @writermjs.bsky.social and the amazing folks at @thenarwhal.ca
theijf.org/tce-csis-lob...
Reposted by Zak Vescera
Watch the video with our reporter @zakvescera.bsky.social.
October 22, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Watch the video with our reporter @zakvescera.bsky.social.
Reposted by Zak Vescera
Find out more from our reporter @zakvescera.bsky.social.
October 23, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Find out more from our reporter @zakvescera.bsky.social.
Reposted by Zak Vescera
Documents reveal TC Energy pressured Canada for ‘private, high-level’ access to spy agency intelligence, a move critics worry could chill legitimate protest. via @writermjs.bsky.social and @zakvescera.bsky.social thenarwhal.ca/tc-energy-cs...
TC Energy lobbied Canada’s spy agency to share intelligence | The Narwhal
Pipeline giant TC Energy urged CSIS to brief Canada’s biggest companies on security threats — raising concerns about surveillance
thenarwhal.ca
October 23, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Documents reveal TC Energy pressured Canada for ‘private, high-level’ access to spy agency intelligence, a move critics worry could chill legitimate protest. via @writermjs.bsky.social and @zakvescera.bsky.social thenarwhal.ca/tc-energy-cs...
Federal officials gave a record $177m penalty to a Vancouver crypto exchange we investigated
Fintrac says Cryptomus didn't report thousands of suspicious transactions, including some potentially linked to sanctions evasion and child sex abuse material
theijf.org/fintrac-cryp...
Fintrac says Cryptomus didn't report thousands of suspicious transactions, including some potentially linked to sanctions evasion and child sex abuse material
theijf.org/fintrac-cryp...
Canada issues record $177 million fine to Vancouver crypto exchange
Cryptomus didn't flag suspicious transactions linked to money laundering of proceeds connected to child sex abuse materials
theijf.org
October 22, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Federal officials gave a record $177m penalty to a Vancouver crypto exchange we investigated
Fintrac says Cryptomus didn't report thousands of suspicious transactions, including some potentially linked to sanctions evasion and child sex abuse material
theijf.org/fintrac-cryp...
Fintrac says Cryptomus didn't report thousands of suspicious transactions, including some potentially linked to sanctions evasion and child sex abuse material
theijf.org/fintrac-cryp...
Reposted by Zak Vescera
Federal officials have fined a Vancouver-based cryptocurrency exchange $177 million, saying it failed to report transactions potentially involved with laundered money linked to child sex abuse material, fraud and sanctions evasion.
zurl.co/EVANr
#bcpoli #cdnpoli
zurl.co/EVANr
#bcpoli #cdnpoli
Canada issues record $177 million fine to Vancouver crypto exchange
Cryptomus didn't flag suspicious transactions linked to money laundering of proceeds connected to child sex abuse materials
zurl.co
October 22, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Federal officials have fined a Vancouver-based cryptocurrency exchange $177 million, saying it failed to report transactions potentially involved with laundered money linked to child sex abuse material, fraud and sanctions evasion.
zurl.co/EVANr
#bcpoli #cdnpoli
zurl.co/EVANr
#bcpoli #cdnpoli
Over the past few months I've been honoured to work with CTV's W5 team on a series of stories about Canadian meth exports to New Zealand.
Read the first of these out now and watch CTV this evening for the first of four TV instalments:
theijf.org/canadian-met...
Read the first of these out now and watch CTV this evening for the first of four TV instalments:
theijf.org/canadian-met...
Canadian ‘beer’ kills 21-year-old in Auckland, New Zealand
Canada leading source of intercepted meth shipments to New Zealand, with deadly consequences
theijf.org
October 14, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Over the past few months I've been honoured to work with CTV's W5 team on a series of stories about Canadian meth exports to New Zealand.
Read the first of these out now and watch CTV this evening for the first of four TV instalments:
theijf.org/canadian-met...
Read the first of these out now and watch CTV this evening for the first of four TV instalments:
theijf.org/canadian-met...
Reposted by Zak Vescera
Find out more from our reporter @zakvescera.bsky.social.
October 14, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Find out more from our reporter @zakvescera.bsky.social.
Money laundering. Through fish. It's real.
We got ahold of internal reports from Canada's financial intelligence agency suggesting transnational gangs may be washing dirty cash through fisheries -- including via government-issued licenses
theijf.org/fisheries-mo...
We got ahold of internal reports from Canada's financial intelligence agency suggesting transnational gangs may be washing dirty cash through fisheries -- including via government-issued licenses
theijf.org/fisheries-mo...
International gangs launder money through Canada’s fishing industry, reports suggest
Criminals may be cleaning cash through government-issued licenses on the west coast
theijf.org
October 10, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Money laundering. Through fish. It's real.
We got ahold of internal reports from Canada's financial intelligence agency suggesting transnational gangs may be washing dirty cash through fisheries -- including via government-issued licenses
theijf.org/fisheries-mo...
We got ahold of internal reports from Canada's financial intelligence agency suggesting transnational gangs may be washing dirty cash through fisheries -- including via government-issued licenses
theijf.org/fisheries-mo...
An NDP MP said he and his staff personally helped a group of temporary foreign workers in his constituency because the federal government wouldn't. He's among those calling for tougher inspections + overhauls to the system
theijf.org/b-c-governme...
theijf.org/b-c-governme...
B.C. government, unions call for more foreign worker program inspections
IJF investigation found most federal inspections don’t involve a worksite visit
theijf.org
October 8, 2025 at 9:42 PM
An NDP MP said he and his staff personally helped a group of temporary foreign workers in his constituency because the federal government wouldn't. He's among those calling for tougher inspections + overhauls to the system
theijf.org/b-c-governme...
theijf.org/b-c-governme...
Scoop: Federal workers do not actually visit most of the worksites they say they inspect under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Most employers only face a "paper-based" inspection done remotely. Advocates say this leaves abuse, fraud unaddressed
theijf.org/tfw-inspecti...
theijf.org/tfw-inspecti...
Most temporary foreign worker program inspections don’t include in-person visits, data reveal
Advocates say IJF findings raise troubling questions about oversight in the controversial program
theijf.org
October 1, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Scoop: Federal workers do not actually visit most of the worksites they say they inspect under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Most employers only face a "paper-based" inspection done remotely. Advocates say this leaves abuse, fraud unaddressed
theijf.org/tfw-inspecti...
theijf.org/tfw-inspecti...
A Vancouver crypto exchange has traded tens of millions of dollars with a Russian platform favoured by cybercriminals and people looking to evade sanctions
On the mystery of Cryptomus -- which is still registered with Canada's anti-sanctions watchdog
theijf.org/cryptomus-tr...
On the mystery of Cryptomus -- which is still registered with Canada's anti-sanctions watchdog
theijf.org/cryptomus-tr...
Vancouver crypto exchange traded millions with sanctioned Russian platform, analysts say
Cryptomus allegedly traded extensively with platform used by prolific hacking groups
theijf.org
September 15, 2025 at 6:01 PM
A Vancouver crypto exchange has traded tens of millions of dollars with a Russian platform favoured by cybercriminals and people looking to evade sanctions
On the mystery of Cryptomus -- which is still registered with Canada's anti-sanctions watchdog
theijf.org/cryptomus-tr...
On the mystery of Cryptomus -- which is still registered with Canada's anti-sanctions watchdog
theijf.org/cryptomus-tr...
Reposted by Zak Vescera
Exclusive: Ottawa considered monetary penalties and “binding legislation” to lower grocery prices. They even considered making “egregious behaviours that harm the food supply chain” illegal. Our reporters got a hold of government documents detailing the plans.
#cdnpoli #canada
buff.ly/OZHCGMv
#cdnpoli #canada
buff.ly/OZHCGMv
September 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Exclusive: Ottawa considered monetary penalties and “binding legislation” to lower grocery prices. They even considered making “egregious behaviours that harm the food supply chain” illegal. Our reporters got a hold of government documents detailing the plans.
#cdnpoli #canada
buff.ly/OZHCGMv
#cdnpoli #canada
buff.ly/OZHCGMv
The Canadian government was preparing "binding legislation" to force grocery giants to adopt rules meant to stabilize food prices. That included making “egregious behaviours that harm the food supply chain” illegal and subject to fines. The legislation was never passed
theijf.org/grocery-code...
theijf.org/grocery-code...
Ottawa considered monetary penalties and ‘binding legislation’ to lower grocery prices
A behind the scenes look at Canada’s response to 2023’s rising grocery prices
theijf.org
September 9, 2025 at 3:15 PM
The Canadian government was preparing "binding legislation" to force grocery giants to adopt rules meant to stabilize food prices. That included making “egregious behaviours that harm the food supply chain” illegal and subject to fines. The legislation was never passed
theijf.org/grocery-code...
theijf.org/grocery-code...
Reposted by Zak Vescera
Our reporter @zakvescera.bsky.social tells you more about what he found.
September 5, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Our reporter @zakvescera.bsky.social tells you more about what he found.
A study commissioned by the federal government found Canada's vape industry (yes, a real thing) is worth billions and is projected to grow even bigger in spite of new regulations and taxes
theijf.org/canadas-vape...
theijf.org/canadas-vape...
Canada’s vape industry worth billions and growing
A report for Health Canada found that the vape market is expected to keep growing, despite federal and provincial regulations to limit use
theijf.org
September 5, 2025 at 6:47 PM
A study commissioned by the federal government found Canada's vape industry (yes, a real thing) is worth billions and is projected to grow even bigger in spite of new regulations and taxes
theijf.org/canadas-vape...
theijf.org/canadas-vape...
A Deloitte report commissioned by the federal government last year urged it to expand oversight of the temporary foreign worker program. The report, never released, warned some employers were exploiting workers on the program by threatening their visas
theijf.org/deloitte-rep...
theijf.org/deloitte-rep...
Deloitte report urged feds to increase oversight of temporary foreign worker program
Report urged the Canadian government to take steps to prevent employers from abusing federal programs that let them hire temporary foreign workers
theijf.org
September 5, 2025 at 6:46 PM
A Deloitte report commissioned by the federal government last year urged it to expand oversight of the temporary foreign worker program. The report, never released, warned some employers were exploiting workers on the program by threatening their visas
theijf.org/deloitte-rep...
theijf.org/deloitte-rep...