Canada removes 51 persons from wanted list: minister

A total of 51 individuals were removed from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Wanted List in 2014, said the top public safety official Monday, touting it a major milestone in the CBSA program.

"I am proud to be announcing the removal of more than 50 individuals who were 'Wanted by the CBSA', through a program that has continued to help keep our families and communities safe," said Steven Blaney, Canadian Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

The "Wanted by the CBSA" program, set up in 2011, is aimed at assisting border services officers in locating individuals who are wanted for removal. To date, the program has helped the CBSA locate 59 individuals in Canada, with 51 being removed in 2014, he said.

Meanwhile, Canadian border authorities also denied entry of more than 150 convicted U.S. sex offenders to Canada in 2014, the minister added. "I am encouraged that our safe and effective border policies have ensured that over 150 sex offenders were prevented from entering Canada and kept off our streets."

These milestones reflect the important work the Canadian government is undertaking to help the country safe, he said. Enditem