cbc news
news
indepth
interactive
live
businesss
programs
sports
weather
viewpoint
newsworld
online
Boat seized off Vancouver Island

Terry Milewski reports for CBC TV


Ringleaders of smuggling operation sent to Vancouver
WebPosted Thu Jul 29 22:54:40 1999

VICTORIA - Immigration officials say they have separated the ringleaders involved in the smuggling of Chinese migrants.


Last week 123 people showed up off the coast of Vancouver Island, apparently planning to enter the country illegally.

Ron Johnson is the Manager of Enforcement for Immigration Canada. He says a decision was made to move some of the boat people from CFB Esquimalt. "We moved 19 individuals from the Esquimalt base over to the Vancouver pre-trial centre in downtown Vancouver. The reasons for that movement were for security and operational issues. We believe that now we have the individuals in a secure site and are able to continue the processing of their detention reviews. "

The remainder of the migrants are being kept at CFB Esquimalt near Victoria.

A group of eight teenage boys have been released into government care. A spokesman for the B.C. Children's Ministry says the teens were being intimidated by other members of the group.

They have all applied for refugee status.

emailstory printstory
NEWS SEARCH:
FROM:
TO:
A U D I O:
M O R E : C A N A D A

News | Indepth | Live | Business | Programs | Weather | Viewpoint | CBC.ca
FEEDBACK | SEARCH | ABOUT NEWSWORLD | GUIDE

Copyright © 1999 CBC All Rights Reserved