The federal government has warned Canadian police services “violent” gangs known for cutting off the heads of victims are attempting to sneak across U.S.-Canada border points to avoid President Donald Trump’s changing immigration policy, The Toronto Sun has learned.
The classified “Alert” from Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) warns “violence linked to the MS-13 is often described as brutal, from senseless beatings to dismemberment.”
Toronto has seen this gang before — even arresting members who threatened a Toronto justice official. MS-13 stands for Mara Salvatrucha which CISC calls a “Latin American street gang known for its violent activities and that exploits migration patterns to set up new cells.”
It calls MS-13 “one of the largest and most violent organized crime groups in the world” with 70,000 members in “half a dozen countries.”
And it’s not just men. The Washington Post did a story this week describing MS-13 female members luring victims to into being slashed to death.
CISC stated in a two-page document obtained by the Toronto Sun that “the Canadian law enforcement community should be aware of the group’s modus operandi” which includes “the use of extreme violence to exert power and ensure cohesion among its members.”
It also suggested “influx of Salvadoran migrants is expected throughout 2018 and 2019 requesting asylum in response to the removal of their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States.”
It tells cops and border security people “MS-13 members will likely exploit the migration of Salvadorians to Canada to set up new cells, most likely in the Greater Toronto Area, Montreal and Vancouver.”
The memo talks of potential dangers to residents since “MS-13 maintains a propensity for public and indiscriminate acts of violence, suggesting an enhanced public safety threat in the communities it inhabits.”
It’s not new. After the arrest of 17 alleged gang members in 2008, then-Toronto Police chief Bill Blair said investigators discovered MS-13 had placed a target on someone in the justice system. “Within the judicial process there are police officers, there are correction officers, there are court officers, there are members of the bar and members of the bench. This investigation involves someone within that process,” said Blair.
Toronto Police on Wednesday re-iterated they are on top of such issues.
“We work around the clock with law enforcement and intelligence colleagues locally, provincially, nationally and globally to get the latest and most accurate information about anything that might affect public safety in Toronto,” said TPS spokesman Mark Pugash. “Our contingency plans are reviewed and updated whenever necessary.”
CISC describes itself as supporting “the effort to reduce the harm caused by organized crime through the delivery of criminal intelligence products and services” by informing “partners, government and other stakeholders about criminal markets in Canada and assists law enforcement leaders in making decisions regarding organized crime enforcement priorities.”
The RCMP says it will comment on the situation with MS-13 in the coming days.
In meantime the lookout is on for MS-13.
Time to retweet
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent out a tweet. Now the Parti Quebecois wants a retweet.
Jan. 28, 2017, Trudeau posted: “to those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada.”
Law enforcement sources say it was an “advertisement for illegals” to come to the border which they have done in droves — sometimes even having police carry their bags into Canada where many have become refugees.
“The problem is some are in gangs or have nefarious backgrounds,” said a justice source.
Now the PQ’s Catherine Fournier and Carole Poirier are urging Trudeau to tweet there are no “free passes into Canada.”
One copper said while it’s a good idea, it might be too late.
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