Officials identify
enforcers among migrants in B.C.
WebPosted Sun Aug 15 12:37:43 1999
VICTORIA, B.C. - Eighteen of the
Chinese migrants staying at CFB Esquimalt in British Columbia have
been separated from the rest on suspicion that they have links to
organized crime.
Canadian Immigration
officials believe the 18 were aboard the ship, which carried a total
of 131 people, as enforcers who kept the other travellers in line,
collected money and made contacts with smugglers.
Immigration officials are interviewing the migrants at the forces
base. On Saturday they spoke with about 30 people. Many of the
migrants are expected to file for refugee status, as did those from
an earlier group that arrived in B.C. July 20.
Refugee hearings for that group -- 123 men and women -- are
expected to begin next month.
The RCMP describes the smuggling of would-be immigrants as a
global activity run by organized crime. The growing problem involves
big money, with passengers paying as much as $40,000 each for the
journey out of their country.
In the last month, two ships carrying Chinese migrants arrived
off B.C.'s coast. A third headed towards North America was
intercepted by the Japanese and diverted to the Marianna Islands off
Guam.
Government ships continue to
patrol the West Coast waters |
Officials confirmed the existence of the third boat Saturday.
They had earlier denied the reports, over fears of interfering with
an ongoing international investigation.
"Consistent with what the U.S. coast guard and the military have
confirmed, a vessel was checked by the Japanese navy earlier this
month," said RCMP Const. Tracey Rook.
"It has had contact with the U.S. coast guard and our most recent
information is that this vessel has now been diverted and is heading
to the Mariana Islands off the coast of Guam," Rook said.
Canada's Department of National Defence says it has tried to
monitor the West Coast more closely since smugglers' ships have been
spotted in the past month. But the area is vast, and the job
difficult.
| 
