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A speedy undercover investigation that lasted less than 48 hours led to the arrest this weekend of a Toronto naval engineer accused of trying to pass secrets about Canadian patrol ships to the government of China.

Qing Quentin Huang, 53, was charged Sunday with two counts under the Security of Information Act for allegedly attempting to “communicate to a foreign entity” details of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy.

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A Canadian citizen who immigrated from China via Singapore in 2001, Mr. Huang was employed at Lloyd’s Register Canada, which was subcontracted by Irving Shipbuilding to work on the design phase of Canada’s Arctic patrol vessels.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service notified the RCMP on Thursday afternoon that Mr. Huang had allegedly contacted the Chinese embassy in Ottawa to offer up the sensitive documents, several sources said.

Fearing Mr. Huang might begin handing over the materials, the Ontario National Security Enforcement Team, working with the Toronto Police Service, had undercover operators pose as Chinese agents and approach him about acquiring the documents, those familiar with the case said.