VANCOUVER - More information is emerging after a ship was intercepted by the Coast Guard off Vancouver Island this morning. The Coast Guard boarded a suspicious ship in Nootka Sound. On board they discovered nearly 100 people.

"We know that they are said to be from Asia," said Citizenship and Immigration spokesperson George Varnai. A patrol plane spotted the ship. The ship had no markings, no name and wasn't flying a flag. A coast guard ship was sent to investigate and found the 55-metre long ship listing and people climbing onto life rafts.

When RCMP and Immigration boarded the ship, they found approximately 90 people. They include 70 men and 20 women. It's not clear how many are crew and how many are passengers but officials are convinced they intercepted a human smuggling operation.

It's still not clear where the ship is from or where it was heading. Officials and Chinese speaking translators will get more information once the ship comes to shore.