Romanian human trafficking ring busted in Ontario

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Police and border officials have busted an Ontario-based human smuggling operation, arresting 85 people.

Of the 85, 45 are adults. Those arrested will be detained under a new provision of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that allows detention for irregular or mass arrivals.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney is set to announce the operation at 11 a.m. ET Wednesday in Stanstead, Que.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/12/05/pol-human-trafficking-bust.html

 

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Roma human smuggling ring smashed by Canadian border guards, 35 children among 85 detained

Canadian border guards have busted a human smuggling ring and rounded up 85 people, including some 35 children.

The bust, involving Roma from the same village in Romania, is thought to have occurred overnight and the individuals are being questioned in the Greater Toronto Area.

Three or four of those arrested were thought to be the organizers.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced details of the bust in Stanstead, Que., the border crossing allegedly used by the migrants on five separate occasions.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/12/05/human-smuggling-ring-smashed-by-canadian-border-guards/

 

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OTTAWA - A government official says 85 Romanians have been caught trying to illegally cross into Canada, representing the first time the government has evoked new legislation aimed at cracking down on human smuggling.
A government official said the Romanains were busted at the Stanstead crossing in Quebec, on the Vermont border, this week. Forty adults were arrested. The others were under 16 years old.

http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/canada/archives/2012/12/20121205-113145.html

 

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These adults and children were trying to get across from the US. I can't help but wonder how many of these are missing children.

Isn't Sky Metalwala's mom Julia, Romanian? Yes, I still have hope he's alive.

 

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More info

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says the foreign nationals, all of whom come from one district in Romania, went to Mexico, then crossed the Mexico-U.S. border illegally and drove to Canada, crossing at Stanstead, Que. Kenney spoke to reporters in Stanstead Wednesday.

"Unfortunately, there are criminal organizations that from time to time seek to abuse our immigration laws and profit from that abuse," he said.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/12/05/pol-human-trafficking-bust.html