Canadian authorities are monitoring a Thai cargo ship following reports it may be on its way to the British Columbia coast with more than 200 migrants on board.
The MV Sun Sea was last spotted in the Gulf of Thailand, where it was the subject of a lookout issued by the Philippine Coast Guard, which called it a suspected people-smuggling vessel.
On the weekend, Colombos Sunday Observer newspaper reported that while the 59-metre vessel was originally headed for Australia it was now sailing toward the Canadian coast.
The office of Jason Kenney, the Minister of Immigration, is following the case. This could end up being a prime example of individuals trying to take advantage of our generous immigration system, said Celyeste Power, the Ministers spokeswoman.
The Department of Foreign Affairs also said it was aware of press reports suggesting that a vessel has departed Southeast Asian waters and may be destined for Canada, and vowed to prosecute anyone caught smuggling human cargo.
Please note that those responsible for migrant smuggling will be pursued, investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of Canadian law and in accordance with the provisions of international conventions and protocols, said Alain Cacchione, a Foreign Affairs spokesman.
The Canadian government has been keeping a watch on the Sun Sea (formerly the Harin Panich 19) since early May when, in partnership with Australia, it asked the Thai government to board two vessels allegedly preparing to ferry migrants to Canada or Australia.
But a spokesman at the Thai embassy in Ottawa said he could not verify the searches ever occurred and the Sun Sea was last seen on May 17, 50 kilometres off the coast of southern Thailand, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
The Sun Sea is roughly the same size as the Ocean Lady, a ship that arrived off the B.C. coast last October carrying 76 Sri Lankan migrants. All were released from custody and most made their way to Toronto, the hub of Canadas large Sri Lankan Tamil community.
Since then, rumours have swirled in Toronto that more ships were on the way. The Sun Sea passengers are from Sri Lanka, where a civil war between government forces and the separatist Tamil Tigers rebels ended just over a year ago, the Sunday Observer reported.
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