Hundreds of criminals connected to the illegal drug trade are freely plying their trades as importers, go-betweens and hitmen in Canada — according to Quebec news outlet TVA Nouvelles — largely because Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government dropped the visa requirement for Mexican travelers.
Hundreds of criminals connected to the illegal drug trade are freely plying their trades as importers, go-betweens and hitmen in Canada — according to Quebec news outlet TVA Nouvelles — largely because Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government dropped the visa requirement for Mexican travelers.
TVA investigative journalist Felix Seguin spoke to several in-the-know sources who revealed there are 400 criminals who have recently entered Canada to traffic drugs — half of them living in Quebec while the other half are presumed to be mainly operating in the Toronto area.
At least several of the estimated 400 who recently infiltrated the Canadian border are believed to have used fake Mexican passports.
Mexican asylum claims skyrocketed once Trudeau waived the visa, going up from 260 in 2016 to over 3,300 in 2018. The visa requirement was originally put in place by the Harper government in 2009 to curb a spike of asylum claims from Mexico. The policy largely worked, with claims dropping down to double digits in 2013.
At least 200 cartel members on the move in Quebec
More than 200 importers, facilitators and hitmen linked to powerful drug cartels roam freely in Quebec. Several have entered with fake Mexican passports since the easing of the rules at the border decreed by the Trudeau government, in 2016, reveals our Investigative Office in a big report available from Thursday on Club illico.
Romualdo Lopez-Herrera landed at Toronto’s Pearson Airport in April 2018. The 41-year-old man, known in Mexico as a dangerous member of the drug cartels, managed to enter the country without problems.
The members of the Mexican cartels are far from the only ones to benefit from this novelty. Among these people linked to unheard-of violence are also suspects from Peru and Colombia, among others.
The members of the Mexican cartels are far from the only ones to benefit from this novelty. Among these people linked to unheard-of violence are also suspects from Peru and Colombia, among others.
Most of them obtained fake Mexican passports, a document that is easy to counterfeit given the corruption that is eating away at the various levels of government in this country.
“After this decision by the Liberal government, there has been a resurgence of fake Mexican passports. One can buy one for about $ 1,000, “says Jean-Pierre Fortin, president of the national union of customs and immigration.
The office of Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, Ralph Goodale, sent us back to the CBSA, which e-mailed it to take its responsibilities very seriously when it comes to border protection and national security.
“In order not to compromise its operational efforts, the CBSA can only talk about its role,” it said.
