Toronto gang leader deported to Sri Lanka

Jothiravi Sittampalam allegedly formed the AK Kannan gang, named after his street name (Kannan, or God) and the AK-47.

The leader of a violent Toronto street gang has been deported to Sri Lanka, six years after he was first ordered out of Canadafor his crimes. Canada Border Services Agency officers escorted Jothiravi Sittampalam back to his homeland on June 10 but federal officials only confirmed the removal today.

The convicted drug dealer was the boss of AK Kannan, an ethnic Tamil gang whose estimated 300 members waged a wild turf war against the rival VVT gang.

At least three bystanders were killed in drive-by shootings and other violent acts by the gangs, which carried Uzis, M-16s, handguns and saw-off shotguns.

“The removal of inadmissible individuals, particularly violent foreign criminals such as Mr. Sittampalam, is key to maintaining the integrity of Canada’s immigration system and to protecting those who live in this country lawfully,” Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said in a statement.

But it took Ottawa almost a decade to get rid of Mr. Sittampalam, who began trafficking heroin shortly after arriving in Canadain 1990 as a refugee from the Sri Lankan conflict.

He was arrested in 2001 as part of an anti-gang sweep called Project 1050 and was ordered deported in 2004. Although considered a danger to the public, he was released from custody with electronic monitoring in 2007 and allowed to remain in Canadawhile he fought no less than a dozen court cases appealing his removal.

The most recent court case was heard June 9. He asked the Federal Court of Canada to prevent the CBSA from deporting him the following day. His appeal was rejected.

^NP