Court documents say alleged dragon head laundered triad cash in Canada

VANCOUVER – Court documents allege that an accused triad leader laundered millions in cash in Canada while immigration officials waited over a decade for wiretap information so they could have the man deported.

Documents filed in the Federal Court of Canada allege Lai Tong Sang conducted 49 separate cash transactions worth over $2.2 million over a four year period while in Canada.

Lai and his family came to Canada in 1996 under a permanent resident visa, but it wasn’t until 2011 that immigration officials finished a report saying Lai isn’t admissible here because of his criminal ties.

An Immigration and Refugee Board heard last week that Lai was the head of Shui Fung, or Water Room, gang and came to Canada at the peak of a bloody gang war in Macau.

Lai’s lawyer filed an application with the federal court in November 2011, arguing that the then 14-year delay to have him removed was unreasonable and prejudicial.

A decision from the immigration board on whether to remove Lai and his family isn’t expected for several months.