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How Canada became the ‘crown jewel’ of smuggling destinations

In Istanbul, Turkey, Ahmed Stanekzai (not his real name) looks out over the Marmara sea from his apartment in Istanbul. Since January, Stanekzai has been trying to come to Canada, something he has dreamed about since seeing the video of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcoming refugees at Toronto's Pearson International airport in December 2015. The demand to come to Canada has spiked in recent years, far outpacing the Liberal government's refugee quotas. The winners are smugglers and scammers who cash in on people's dreams. (Photograph by Adnan R. Khan)

In a world flooded with millions of displaced people, Canada has become the dream destination—and a cash cow for those capitalizing on their hopes