SEVEN STOWAWAYS APPREHENDED IN HALIFAX

UNCLAS HALIFAX 000017 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHSA PREF PHUM PBTS SMIG EWWT KFRD CA SUBJECT: SEVEN STOWAWAYS APPREHENDED IN HALIFAX ¶1. (SBU) Enforcement officers with the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) took seven male stowaways into custody in Halifax on the afternoon of April 23. All seven were onboard the Swedish-registered container ship "ATLANTIC CONCERT," which arrived in port that afternoon. The ship is operated by Sweden's Atlantic Container Line. Although all the stowaways initially claimed to be seeking refugee status in Canada, the RCMP told post that only one intends to make a formal claim. According to CBSA, the remaining six stowaways will now be subject to deportation proceedings. All seven remain in custody. ¶2. (SBU) Canadian investigators are continuing efforts to verify the identities and nationalities of the stowaways, five of whom reportedly claimed to be Moroccan and two Algerian. Canadian officials are trying to learn where the men boarded the ship (which called in Antwerp before sailing for Halifax) and whether Canada or the United States was their intended final destination, since the onward port for the vessel was New York. Our contacts expect to uncover more details as their investigation progresses and will update post as appropriate. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: While the number of stowaways intercepted in Canada is down considerably from the 1993 peak of 422, the issue has not disappeared completely, as made evident by this latest episode. Furthermore, although these seven stowaways were apprehended onboard the vessel when it arrived at port, last year six stowaways managed to debark at another container terminal in Halifax and evade port security before being caught inland as they sought to make their way to Montreal. Whether yesterday's interception of the stowaways aboard the Swedish container ship is the result of better intelligence and tighter port security, or better luck, remains an open question for now. END COMMENT. FOSTER