(BCTV) - Part 3
Immigration officials say they have learned a lesson from that
first boatload of illegal migrants that came to B.C. this summer.
Seventy-six people were released on a promise to appear for
refugee hearings, but 38 have disappeared and arrest warrants have
been issued. As a result, officials say they have released no
adults from the other three boats. And they want the laws changed
to make detention easier.
All this week, Ted Chernecki has been reporting from New York,
the final destination for many migrants on the brutal reality that
shatters their dreams of prosperity.
As we continue our investigation into these migrants' desperate
escape from Fujian, we find that, at journey's end, many become
easy pickings for Chinese gangs.
Ted Chernecki, reporting: "Three PM, roll call at New York's
5th Precinct... NYPD's oldest precinct. This is the front line in
the battle against crime driven by Chinatown gangs. The 5th
Precinct has spent a lot of time getting the right ethnic mix of
officers in what is a very unique police district, even for New
York City. When tragedy strikes - it is invariably a complex case
- often involving kidnappings and extortion."
John Curran, former Asian gang prosecutor: "The rash of
kidnappings took us by surprise. Back in '94 they were off the
chart. My experience with these gangs is that they are very
violent."
Ted Chernecki, reporting: "John Curran, a lead prosecutor in
many Asian gang cases recounts one especially violent kidnapping,
involving three Fujian migrants who were simply snatched from a
Chinatown sweatshop and held for ransom."
John Curran, former Asian gang prosecutor: "...Beating them
when they were on the phones with their family, torturing them,
they cut off the finger of one woman, sexually assaulted them,
ultimately strangling to death one woman and shooting the man in
the back of the head. He ultimately survived."
Ted Chernecki, reporting: "It was that survivor who helped
track the kidnappers. They were arrested on the US west coast on
their way to a safe house in Vancouver."
Det. Ming Li, NYPD 5th Precinct: "Point a camera at them and
watch how fast they run."
Ted Chernecki, reporting: "Organized crime in Chinatown has
plenty to choose from when looking for new recruits."
Det. Ming Li, NYPD 5th Precinct: "Once a person doesn't have a
job, they will seek an easy way to make money...Either by joining
the gang or becoming violent in some sort of crime. Ah, they saw
the camera."
Ted Chernecki, reporting: "They're hiding their faces for fear
they may someday appear here, in NYPD's now large collection of
suspected gang members."
Det. Ming Li, NYPD 5th Precinct: "The gangs come in and then
they prey off the aliens. They misunderstand the nature of the
deal. That's part of why they come, is that they're misled."
Ted Chernecki, reporting: "Migrants are misled into thinking
they have years to pay off their debts. But they don't and are
often forced into a life of gambling and prostitution.
There is a positive side to all of this. Police have been
reasonably successful in slowing the crime. Kidnappings and
extortion cases are down. In fact, law enforcers here think the
Chinatown gang problem is actually worse in Vancouver."
John Curran, former Asian gang prosecutor: "They have an
extremely serious gang problem up in Vancouver."
Ted Chernecki, reporting: "Take that as a warning. Law
enforcers say if Vancouver can't control the level of gang
activity connected to people smuggling, New York's crime wave of a
few years ago, could soon be Vancouver's.
Tomorrow on the News Hour, the loneliness in New York City and
how one Fujian migrant tells us how he regrets ever having left
China."