ARCHIVED - Ministers Toews and Kenney commend law enforcement for arrests in alleged human smuggling/trafficking ring
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Ottawa, ON September 6, 2012 – The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, and the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, made the following statement on the arrest of four individuals in connection with an alleged human smuggling and human trafficking ring.
The Cornwall/Massena Border Enforcement Security Taskforce (BEST) apprehended four individuals from Ontario and Quebec, alleged to have smuggled a family of five from the U.S into Canada. Also involved in the operation were the Canada Border Services Agency, the Cornwall & Greater Toronto Area (GTA) CBSA Enforcement & Intelligence Operations Divisions, the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service, the Cornwall Community Police Service, the Peel Regional Police Service and RCMP Toronto Immigration Task Force.
“Human smuggling and human trafficking are reprehensible crimes that victimize vulnerable individuals. We commend the vigilance and cooperative efforts of the numerous enforcement agencies involved in this investigation. Their joint efforts send a strong message to would-be criminals that neither Canada nor the U.S. will tolerate human trafficking or the threat it poses to victims, Canadian communities and the integrity of our borders.
Bill C-31, the Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act, which will be fully implemented later this year, contains strong measures to deter human smugglers. Individuals found guilty of such crimes will face minimum mandatory prison sentences. Our Government is committed to putting an end to the misery and profiteering associated with these heinous acts.”
For more information on the arrests, visit the RCMP website http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/on/news-nouvelles/index-eng.htm
For more information on Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act, please visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada web site at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2012/2012-02-16.asp
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Information:
Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657
Media Relations
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(613) 952-1650
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