The Canadian Security Intelligence Service and RCMP are telling private investigators that authorities in Canada and allied countries have observed multiple examples of their profession being hired to gather personal and “pattern of life” information about opponents of foreign regimes, to locate “purported” fugitives and dissidents, to conduct surveillance on or to harass targets. […]
“Diaspora communities with roots in authoritarian countries are particularly vulnerable,” they say. […]
Customers approaching private investigators may lie about the reasons for hiring them, alleging the target has committed financial fraud or marital infidelity, CSIS and the RCMP warn in their alert.
“The ultimate aim of the hostile state actor may be to harass, threaten or unlawfully repatriate persons living legally in Canada,” the alert said.
Jolene Johnson, who runs Vancouver-based West Point Investigations Corp., said a CSIS officer approached her on June 17 to discuss concerns that China has been hiring private investigators to track down alleged fugitives who are often critics of Beijing. […]
Michelle Tessier, former deputy director of operations at CSIS, said China, Iran, Russia and India are increasingly adept at using sophisticated means to hide their involvement while tracking down opponents of their regimes.
Often, Ms. Tessier said private investigators are not even aware that they are being used by a hostile state because they may be hired through law firms or third parties. […]
The RCMP have been conducting an investigation into facilities in Canada that were used as illegal police stations by China to intimidate or harass people of Chinese origin.
The stations are believed to be among at least 100 operating around the globe in 53 countries, including Canada, Britain and the U.S., according to Spain-based NGO Safeguard Defenders, which monitors human-rights abuses in China.
In a report last year, the non-profit said the illegal police stations are part of efforts by China’s regime to “harass, threaten, intimidate and force targets to return to China for persecution.”