Public tips have led to the capture of a fourth alleged war criminal as part of a federal crackdown on suspected fugitives, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.
The Canadian Border Services Agency arrested Henry Pantoja Carbonel, a 52-year-old man from Peru, in the Greater Toronto Area.
Carbonel's arrest comes days after the federal government launched a website listing the names of 30 suspected war criminals on July 21.
From the House of Commons foyer, Toews told reporters that the online registry was proving to be an effective way to apprehend those suspected of being complicit in war crimes or crimes against humanity.
"The focus of this is to remove individuals from Canada who are inadmissible," said Toews. "We do not want Canada to be a haven for those who have been implicated in war crimes."
The list of suspected fugitives has been accused of convicting individuals in the court of public opinion and being put together without sufficient evidence.
Toews defended the registry on Wednesday saying that it is meant to get rid of individuals who are inadmissible to Canada, not to determine guilt or innocence.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has also rejected criticism of the list.
At Wednesday's press conference he stressed the importance of apprehending individuals who have "taken advantage of our legal process."
"We have to act on arresting and deporting people who are involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity," Kenney said.
Four alleged fugitives, in total, have now been arrested from the online list of 30 individuals.
Cristobal Gonzalez-Ramirez, a 44-year-old man from Honduras, was the first suspect to be tracked down. One day later, officials arrested Arshad Muhammad, a 42-year-old from Pakistan who is thought to be linked to an Islamic terrorist organization.
Both Kenney and Toews have encouraged anyone with information on the 26 remaining suspected fugitives to call the CBSA Border Watch line at 1-888-502-9060.
