Five individuals charged in alleged Canadian Visa fraud scheme

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has laid charges against four individuals in connection with an alleged immigration fraud scheme involving 209 Bangladeshi nationals and 243 Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) applications. A fifth suspect, who is reportedly in Bangladesh, is also facing charges, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Rashel Mirza, Mohammed Aminul Islam, Md Mudassar Alam Bhuiyan and Kazi Nafeez Alam appeared at the Valleyfield courthouse on October 22, 2026. The fifth accused, Md Rakibul Hassan, is currently believed to be in Bangladesh.

The investigation began after a CBSA operation on July 3, 2024, at a private residence in Mercier, Quebec. During a compliance inspection conducted with representatives of the town’s police and fire departments, officers identified several potential violations of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

Investigators later discovered that 243 temporary resident visa applications had been submitted for 209 Bangladeshi nationals, who were seeking to visit Canadian citizens presented as their hosts. According to the CBSA, the alleged scheme involved fraudulent documents and false statements to help applicants obtain Canadian visas.

On June 3, 2025, CBSA investigators executed four search warrants at locations in Quebec and Ontario. Documents and computer equipment seized during the searches reportedly pointed to the involvement of five individuals in the alleged scheme. Due to the scale and complexity of the investigation, authorities focused on 79 visa applications considered to provide the strongest evidence.

The accused face charges related to conspiracy to organize or facilitate the entry of people into Canada, knowingly assisting or encouraging misrepresentation in immigration applications, and knowingly assisting or encouraging violations of the IRPA.