The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, today announced the removal from Canada of 20 members of a human trafficking criminal organization that had operated in the Hamilton area. The individuals were all part of the extended Domotor-Kolompar criminal ring and were convicted of human trafficking charges under the Criminal Code of Canada.
Victims of the Domotor-Kolompar extended family were recruited and/or transported from their native Hungary, with promises of a better life and work in the Hamilton area. They were forced to work illegally, live in deplorable conditions without adequate food, and were intimidated or attacked repeatedly.
The most recent removals were completed in May 2014, when Gyozo Papai and Gizella Domotor were removed to Hungary. As of today, 22 members of this criminal organization have been convicted of crimes relating to human trafficking and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has removed 20 of these individuals from Canada.
Quick Facts
- Human trafficking, often described as a modern-day form of slavery, involves the recruitment, transportation, harbouring and/or exercising control, direction or influence over the movement of a person in order to exploit that person, typically through sexual exploitation or forced labour.
- In June 2012, the Government launched the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, which introduced aggressive new initiatives to prevent human trafficking, identify victims, protect the most vulnerable, and prosecute perpetrators, in addition to consolidating its ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking.
- As part of its enforcement of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the CBSA may remove from Canada any person who has been issued a removal order for breaching the Act.
- Information about suspicious cross-border activity should be reported to the CBSA Border Watch Toll-free Line at 1-888-502-9060.
- Of the 20 persons removed, the CBSA is publicly announcing the following 9 removals:
- CSASZAR, Krisztina
- DOMOTOR, Ferenc Jr.
- DOMOTOR, Gizella
- DOMOTOR, Jozsef
- KARADI, Ferenc
- KOLOMPAR, Attila
- KOLOMPAR, Gizella
- PAPAI, Gyozo
- SZANTO, Janos
Quotes
“The removal of these foreign criminals convicted of human trafficking demonstrates how our Government is keeping Canadians safe. The National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking contains aggressive initiatives to prevent human trafficking, identify and protect vulnerable victims, and prosecute perpetrators. Our Government will continue to take strong action to address human trafficking in all its forms.”
– The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
"An outstanding local team of RCMP, CBSA officials, police and the Crown Attorney at the time worked tirelessly to see this day come. We owe them a debt of gratitude for helping us rid the scourge of human trafficking in Hamilton and Ancaster. There is no doubt that today is a day when justice has been served."
– David Sweet, MP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale.
“The problem of trafficking in persons has become a significant security concern given the involvement of organized criminal elements. Project “OPAPA” identified members of a human trafficking ring and the CBSA removed those found to be inadmissible to Canada. These actions demonstrate that the CBSA is fulfilling its mandate of ensuring the safety and security of Canada and Canadians.”
– Goran Vragovic, CBSA Regional Director General, Greater Toronto Area Region
"The RCMP is proud to be able to work closely with its partners to ensure all Canadians can feel safe at home. Providing high level and professional investigation results, from a local and international perspective, by our members is a commitment the RCMP has engaged itself in. Successful conclusions like these are the results of great team work."
– Inspector Steve Martin, Officer in Charge, RCMP Hamilton–Niagara Detachment.
src:news.gc.ca