RCMP investigating two alleged clandestine Chinese police stations in Quebec

By The Canadian Press on March 9, 2023.

MONTREAL – The Quebec RCMP say they are investigating two alleged secret police stations operated by Chinese authorities in the province.

In a statement, the federal police force says its Integrated National Security Team has opened investigations into the suspected police stations in Montreal and Brossard, a suburb just south of the city.

Sgt. Charles Poirier says Canadians of Chinese origin were victims of activities carried out by the stations, adding that any type of intimidation, harassment or targeting of diaspora communities will not be tolerated.

Poirier says the RCMP are carrying out actions aimed at detecting and disrupting “criminal activities supported by a foreign state” that may threaten the safety of people living in Canada.

The RCMP said they could not provide further details due to ongoing investigations, first reported Thursday by the Journal de Montréal.

The Spanish human rights organization Safeguard Defenders said in a report last September that there were Chinese police operations around the world, including three in Toronto.

It later identified two more, including one in Vancouver and a second unknown Canadian location and said in December there were more than 100 such stations in more than 50 countries.

The group says the stations serve to “persuade” people who Chinese authorities claim are fugitives living overseas to return to China to face charges.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 9, 2023.

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