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.
Pearson International Airport.
Despite immigration and security experts warning of the risks of waiving the Mexican visa back in 2016, the Trudeau government went ahead with the policy change. On Friday the Sun’s Brian Lilley reported the illegal border crossings into Canada increased by 24% last month.
Romualdo Lopez-Herrera, 41, flew to Pearson Airport in April 2018 — known to Mexican authorities as a dangerous member of a drug cartel and suspected sicario (hitman) — and passed security undetected, according to the TVA report.
Lopez-Herrera, whose legal name is Noe Hulloa Sevilla, was arrested by Quebec police for extortion after similarly infiltrating border security. He is a member of the violent gang Los Paisanos, and is now evading authorities.
“It’s very serious that there are people who infiltrate our home, in Quebec City, in Montreal or in Toronto, and that we are not able to find them. Do you think the public can accept that?” Conservative opposition critic for public safety Pierre Paul-Hus told TVA.
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale’s office responded by saying government agencies have a robust screening process and work closely with Canada’s Five Eyes partners to detect criminals.
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale speaks during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
“CBSA prioritizes removal cases and its highest priorities are cases of organized crime, national security, irregular migration, crimes against humanity and criminality,” said Goodale’s office.
Goodale’s office also mentioned how the Trudeau government passed legislation to allow the CBSA to be informed when individuals leave the country, “addressing a key security gap.” No direct response was given for the hundreds of criminals who purportedly infiltrated Canada’s border security and remain in the country.
“As part of the Mexico Visa Lift Initiative framework, CBSA received $29.1 million in additional funding for Liaison Officers in Mexico, screening, increased enforcement and other services.”
The Trudeau government maintains that waiving the Mexican visa requirement was necessary for “rebuilding and strengthening” relations with Mexico in order to boost economic ties.
“In 2017 alone, the increase in business travelers and tourists generated more than $600 million in economic benefits for Canada,” said Goodale’s office.
In order to visit Canada, Mexicans now have to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization, which costs $7 and takes several minutes to fill out.
100s of drug cartel members have entered Canada since Liberals waived Mexican visa: Report
