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.
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