Two men accused of organizing the MV Sun Sea's journey to Canada appear in B.C. Provincial Court in Vancouver on Wednesday, May 16, 2012. It was their first appearance on that charge. Lesly Jana Emmanuel is on the left, with Kunarobinson Christhurajah seated beside him. Jane Wolsak

Men charged with helping to organize MV Sun Sea voyage appear in court
SUNNY DHILLON
VANCOUVER— From Thursday’s Globe and Mail
Published Wednesday, May. 16, 2012 9:00PM EDT
Last updated Wednesday, May. 16, 2012 9:09PM EDT

Dressed in red prison-issued clothing, listening intently as a Tamil interpreter translated the proceedings, two men charged with helping organize the MV Sun Sea’s voyage into Canada made a brief appearance in Vancouver Provincial Court.

Kunarobinson Christhurajah and Lesly Jana Emmanuel were each charged this week with one count of organizing entry into Canada contrary to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Both men face penalties of life in prison and/or a $1-million fine.

Mr. Christhurajah and Mr. Emmanuel did not address the court during their first appearance Wednesday. The men stood behind a glass barrier in the prisoner’s box and followed the hearing through the interpreter. They remain in custody and will be back in court June 5 for a bail hearing.

493 Tamil migrants arrived in B.C. aboard the MV Sun Sea in August 2010. Department of National Defence

Man arrested in France for smuggling Tamil migrants
By Monisha Martins – Maple Ridge News
Published: April 11, 2012 8:00 AM

A man accused of trying to smuggle Tamil asylum seekers into Canada aboard the MV Sun Sea two years ago has been arrested in France.

Thayakaran Markandu faces a charge of organizing entry in Canada contrary to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for allegedly organizing the trip that brought 492 Tamil migrants from Thailand to Victoria in 2010 aboard a rusty 59-metre-long cargo ship.

Markandu was taken into custody last week by French authorities and Interpol agents who were acting on behalf of the Canadian government.

All 492 Tamil migrants found on board have all made refugee claims. Many of the women and men were held in two Maple Ridge provincial prisons while federal agencies processed them. Men who Canadian authorities allege were the ship’s crew remain in custody at the Fraser Regional Correctional Centre

Markandu is the first person charged in connection with the MV Sun Sea. An international search was launched after the charges were laid last month in B.C. provincial court.

Extradition proceedings are underway to bring Markandu to Canada.

Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews, right, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney, far left, and former minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway Stockwell Day announce a series of reforms to combat human smuggling in Delta, B.C., on Oct. 21, 2010. The freighter MV Ocean Lady, which was seized off the B.C. coast in 2009 with 76 illegal Tamil migrants aboard sits dockside behind them. (Richard Lam/Reuters)

Human smuggling and trafficking big business in Canada
Smugglers said to have helped more than 10 per cent of illegal immigrants
By Ian Johnson, CBC News Posted: Mar 29, 2012 5:20 AM ET Last Updated: Mar 29, 2012 10:13 AM ET

Human trafficking a growing problem in Canada, B.C. expert says

Although it’s not yet clear whether Tuesday’s fatal capsizing of a yacht off the coast of Nova Scotia was a failed attempt to smuggle illegal immigrants into Canada, there is no doubt that human smuggling is a booming business and Canada a favoured destination for migrants and refugees of all kinds.

While most arrive in Canada legally, there are others who try to take shortcuts around the country’s immigration system using human smugglers.

The United Nations estimates that human smuggling is currently one of the most profitable criminal activities worldwide.

Human trafficking kingpin to be deported

By Rob Lamberti, Toronto Sun

Attila Kolompar sat in the prisoner’s box and never looked at the two young men he was convicted of keeping virtual slaves working at his contracting firm.

And Assistant Crown Attorney Anthony Skarica spared nothing when he described Kolompar — clad in prison orange overalls and a black leather jacket — as a member of a crime group that spearheaded an “invasion of evil” that breached Canada’s borders and threatens its financial stability.

The 37-year-old married father of two children was sentenced to 72 months in jail after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiring in trafficking humans and one of defrauding Hamilton’s welfare of more than$13,000 in a two-year period.

But because he’s been in custody since the RCMP arrested the nation’s largest ever human trafficking ring in 2010, and sparing the legal system a six month trial, he only has to serve 26 months.

"Contributing" to the Canadian economy and cultural diversity, Abdul Karim Nassereddine, Naib Ali Soilihi, Mohammed Rami Taha and Mezri Mehdi Mohamed Hamza were arrested in human trafficking and underage prostitution.

Cops arrest suspects in alleged case of forced underage prostitution
The men arrested are, (from left) Naib Ali Soilihi, Mohammed Rami Taha, Abdul Karim Nassereddine, while Mehdi Mohamed Hamza Mezri (right) is still being sought.
Updated: Thu Feb. 09 2012 5:05:28 PM
ctvmontreal.ca

MONTREAL — The Montreal police Child Sexual Exploitation Investigations Section has announced the arrest of six young men in a case of human trafficking and prostitution.

Two underage girls allegedly met the suspects in February 2011 and were forced into prostitution.

The girls told police that they managed to flee to their freedom a week later.

Police have arrested Abdul Karim Nassereddine, 20, Naib Ali Soilihi, 20 and Mohammed Rami Taha, 19. Mezri Mehdi Mohamed Hamza, 21, turned himself in Thursday after being sought by authorities.

Nicole O’Reilly Thu, 12 Jan 2012 
Human trafficking case puts spotlight on refugee system

www.thespec.com

An ongoing human trafficking case in Hamilton has sparked sharp criticism of Canada’s immigration and refugee system.

The case prosecutor, assistant Crown attorney Toni Skarica blames the removal of Hungarian visitors’ visa requirements for providing “the opportunity for the expansion of the … criminal organization into Canada,” he wrote in a court document.

He denounced the alleged criminal organization as “an invasion of evil,” from Hungary.