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“In the most basic form, what is happening right now is called money laundering. These activities and these sorts of transactions are confined to money laundering — money leaving Mexico, going through Canada and various other parts of the world,” Bajwa said. “Once the money has left Mexico, it is difficult to trace. Money launderers are aware of this and try their best to hide the trade because they don’t want anything to come back to them. This is done because the money is earned through illegitimate means, including drug trafficking, embezzlement, misappropriation of funds etc.”

Reyes Garcia said repeatedly in the interview that he didn’t have anything to do with the transfer of funds through the B.C. company, although he may have been provided details of some of the transactions by Barreiro’s lawyer.

The CBSA alleges there is evidence of his involvement based “on emails and the indictments in Mexico by the attorney-general.”

Reyes Garcia admitted he and Barreiro had been partners in a Mexican development company called Aspen, which was also mentioned in the emails on his phone.

Bajwa noted that the Mexican company and the B.C. company are “on the same emails.”

“Your partner was moving money to various accounts, including overseas to Switzerland. We can’t criminally prosecute you here in Canada. We aren’t the Mexican authorities, if that is something you are worried about. Initially, you didn’t mention anything about Kross Investments. Aspen is all there. It’s not by accident that you are involved in these emails. All of this is here,” he said.