«The facts I have reviewed have provided me with reasonable grounds to suspect that these arrivals have occurred as part of
a human smuggling operation, in contravention of section 117 (1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, for profit or in association with a criminal organization.
Our message is clear to those contemplating
a human smuggling operation — don't do it.»
As the Syrian civil war continues with no end in sight, thousands of Syrian refugees have reached the Turkish coasts around Mersin, turning to
human smuggling operations as a way to reach Europe.