(BCTV) - He was at the helm when that first shipload of illegal migrants arrived off the coast of B.C. earlier this summer. He had been hired by the so-called "Snakeheads" to help smuggle humans into Canada. But as Catherine Pope reports, despite his role in the operation, he may soon be released.

"This is Ziang Chun Liang...And BCTV News has learned he was the captain of the first boat from China. As it turns out, it was no accident he landed in Nootka Sound. In fact, Liang says he was given precise coordinates. And once there, two men went ashore on a raft to make phone calls. That was when a couple of American fishermen stumbled upon them...blowing the whole smuggling operation wide open, with the arrest of 123 passengers and crew.

According to documents obtained by BCTV news, Liang wasn't just the captain, he owned the ship. According to his declaration, he paid 300-thousand Chinese dollars for it - about 60-thousand Canadian. And in exchange for bringing the boat and its human cargo to Canada, he received free passage.

Ironically, that deal bought him his freedom today. Because he owes no money to the smugglers, he was deemed a low risk for disappearing and an adjudicator has ordered him released.

But Liang will have to come up a two-thousand dollar bond before he's set free. And his release is only temporary. He has applied for refugee status and that claim will be heard in November. Incidentally, his lawyer told (Catherine Pope) Liang is claiming refugee status on the basis of his anti-government views that have led to his political persecution."