VANCOUVER - Immigration officials say they've isolated the suspected ringleaders involved in the smuggling of Chinese migrants.

The 123 people were taken off a boat off the West Coast of Vancouver Island, last week. They're been detained at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt. Today 19 of them have been moved over to Vancouver.

Ron Johnson is the Manager of Enforcement for Immigration Canada. "Today we moved 19 individuals from the Esquimalt base here over to the Vancouver pre-trial center in downtown Vancouver. The reasons for that movement were for security and operational issues," said Johnson.

The remainder of the migrants will remain at CFB Esquimalt for now. Eight teenaged boys have been released into government care. They've all applied for refugee status.