Another Tamil smuggling ship headed to Canada

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Another Tamil smuggling ship headed to Canada

7 Oct 2010 - 13:30
A maritime search is underway by Canadian authorities for evidence of a second Tamil smuggling ship that is reported to be steaming to B.C. before the shipping season winds down for the winter.Military and police officers working for Public Safety Canada are using satellites and hi-tech eavesdropping equipment to locate and pick up signals from the vessel and determine if it is ferrying migrants from Sri Lanka, Toronto Sun said quoting sources.
“We believe the first smuggling trip is paying for a second one,” a police source said on Thursday. “The smugglers have a window of only a couple weeks to make it to Canada.”
The man, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, said stormy seas and freezing weather will make it difficult for the smugglers to stage a trip to Canada in a small vessel during the winter months.
“Since the rumoured migrant vessel heading for Canada is still in international waters, DFAIT (Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade) is the lead department,” Public Safety Ministry spokesman David Charbonneau said by e-mail Thursday. “If, or when, the vessel reaches Canadian waters it will be Canada Border Services Agency taking the lead.”
“We are aware of these media reports and will not comment on operational details,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Laura Markle said.It has been almost two months since 492 Tamil migrants arrived off the coast of B.C. on the MV Sun Sea. They have all since filed refugee claims.