And it's a heat felt not only across the Canada-U.S. border, but back in China itself. Canadian police played no direct role in ``Operation Squeeze Play.'' But the four-month sting has resulted in indictments against several Canadians as well as Americans and Chinese for conspiring to smuggle people from Fujian province.

While unlawful Chinese migration is no great immigration crisis, these criminals do prey on desperate people, put lives at risk, keep migrants in bondage until they pay their fees, and strain ties between countries. They should be closed down.

The American sting was remarkable because it targeted alleged ringleaders in China itself, not just their operatives here. It's a model Canadian police should adopt. The threat of exposure may encourage Beijing to suppress the rings, and to more quickly repatriate migrants, before more embarrassment follows.