CHARGES LAID IN EXTORTION, MONEY LAUNDERING AND CRIMINAL INTEREST RATE INVESTIGATION
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(TORONTO, ON) - Three Greater Toronto Area residents have been arrested and charged in an extortion, money laundering and criminal interest rate, known as loansharking, operation.
In September 2025, the Investigation and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) commenced Project STOP, an investigation into suspected illegal lending of money at a criminal interest rate.
As a result of the investigation, on Thursday, June 25, 2026, the OPP, York Regional Police (YRP) and Toronto Police Service (TPS) executed search warrants on two residences and one vehicle in North York and King City.
The OPP arrested and charged three individuals under the Criminal Code (CC) and the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA).
Vuong Quan DINH, age 44 of King City, was charged with:
- Criminal interest rate, section 347(1) CC
- Laundering proceeds of crime, section 462.31 CC
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, section 354(1) CC
- Extortion, section 346 CC
- Failure to register as a money service business, section 74(1) PCMLTFA
- Registration offence for knowingly engaging in a money service business activity without being registered with FINTRAC, section 77.4 PCMLTFA
- Reporting and other requirements (fail to report transactions), section 75(1) PCMLTFA
The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
Thi Diem Thuy DINH, age 51 of North York, was charged with:
- Laundering proceeds of crime, section 462.31 CC
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, section 354(1) CC
- Criminal interest rate, section 347(1) CC
Thi Quy NGUYEN, age 68 of North York, was charged with:
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, section 354(1) CC
- Obstruct police, section 129 CC
Both accused are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
The OPP acknowledges the valuable contributions of the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), TPS and YRP in support of this investigation.