8 arrested in Air Canada masked traveller case: report

Montreal Gazette 01/09/2011 17:03

Combination photo shows a man in custody with and without his disguise in this handout image released to Reuters on November 5, 2010.

Eight people - including current and former Hong Kong airport employees - have been arrested in the case of a young Asian man who disguised himself as an elderly passenger on a flight from Hong Kong to Vancouver, according to a news report.

Hong Kong English newspaper The Standard reported that a member of the ground staff at Hong Kong International Airport airport and two former airport staff members are among those accused of helping the young man - believed to be a Chinese national in his 20s - to board an Air Canada flight in Hong Kong in October while wearing a mask that made him appear to be an elderly Caucasian.

Once in Canada, the unidentified man requested asylum and is still being detained.

The paper reported that a two-month investigation found the man made it through immigration with a genuine passport, then obtained a fake passport and boarding pass in the departure hall before boarding.

The Standard noted a Canadian intelligence report said the masked traveller obtained the boarding pass from a 55-year-old American. However, all eight people arrested during weekend raids were Hong Kong citizens, police told the paper.

Immigration officials told The Standard the syndicate helped 10 people cross borders illegally and has been charging each client about $45,000.

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