Canada's involvement in the arrest of 155 Sri Lankan migrants in Thailand, some of whom reportedly were set to board the next smuggling ship, is raising questions whether Canada may be "blurring the lines" between legitimate asylum seekers and those involved in human trafficking activities.

As Thailand isn't bound by several key UN human rights treaties, concerns have also been raised whether Canada may be complicit should migrants face persecution, if deported.

According to a report by the National News Bureau of Thailand, Thai immigration officials and commandos raided apartments in 17 locations in Bangkok after receiving a tip that Sri Lankan immigrants had been sneaking into the country.

The report indicated a number of rebel group members were among them and that many had no travel documents or had overstayed their visa expiry dates.

Officials are reportedly conducting interviews that would see them leave the country quickly. It was also reported that police suspected some were planning to seek asylum in a third country.

Rohan Gunaratna, a professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, who has consulted for the Canadian government, said that third country was Canada and that Canadian and Australian authorities have been working with the Thai government to "pre-empt" just such a thing from happening.

While the Canadian government refused to comment on "operational issues," the Foreign Affairs Department confirmed Canada is aware of the Thai arrests and that it's working with several "source and transit countries" to combat migrant smuggling.

But a lawyer with the Canadian Tamil Congress in Toronto said he fears Canada may be "blurring the lines" between legitimate asylum seekers and those involved in criminal smuggling operations.

Gary Anandasangaree heard from a relative in Canada that at least one person caught up in the recent raids had registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees back in May 2009 when that individual first arrived in the country.

According to the Congress, tens of thousands of Tamils have sought sanctuary in Thailand in the past and if they are returned to Sri Lanka, they face the possibility of torture.

In a statement, spokesman David Poopalapillai said the Congress is "disturbed" to hear the Canadian government might have been involved in the arrests.

"Canada cannot interchange human smugglers with genuine refugees. Refugees need our help, pure and simple," he said.

"Canada cannot negate its international obligations and have countries such as Thailand do its dirty work."

While the extent of Canada's involvement isn't clear, York University law professor Craig Scott suggested Canada may be morally and possibly legally complicit if it were encouraging or economically supporting the Thai government in its efforts to deport the group en masse because Thailand isn't bound by the same standards, having not signed on to UN human rights and refugee treaties.

McGill University law professor Francois Crepeau said what Canada should do is convince Thai officials to refer each case to the UNHCR.

According to Gunaratna, Canada and Australia have "maintained a permanent presence in Bangkok" and have been helping monitor the Tamil Tiger networks be believes are behind these human smuggling operations.

"Lead agencies" in Canada, he said, include the Canada Border Services Agency, the RCMP and CSIS which began taking the issue seriously after the MV Sun Sea arrived in Vancouver in August with 492 Tamil migrants on board.

It was the second time a ship full of Tamils sought refuge in Canada.

A year ago, the Ocean Lady docked in Victoria with 76 men aboard.

"It appears Canada doesn't wish to be taken for a ride and they have become more decisive in their response," he said.

"It is unfortunate that a second ship, the merchant vessel Sun Sea, had to come for Canada to get their act together."

Because of the difficulties Canada faces trying to send them back once they've arrived on Canadian soil, Gunaratna said Canada has essentially launched a pre-emptive strike to keep the ships from ever leaving Thailand.

He added Canada has also increased its presence in India and other parts of Southeast Asia as well.

While he's considered extremely well connected, Gunaratna's impartiality has been called into question in the past. Detention hearings held last year for the Ocean Lady migrants heard that the professor had close ties with the Sri Lankan government and that he had even helped the president write his memoirs.

Since the incident involving the Sun Sea — a vessel initially bound for Australia but rerouted to Vancouver — Canadian officials have also been meeting with representatives of Australia, which has toughened its stance on migrant ships and people smuggling.

One idea that the Australian government has floated is the creation of a central, offshore processing centre.

Any asylum-seeker who arrives on a migrant ship, whether it be in Australia or Canada, would automatically be sent to this centre for processing.

Supporters of the idea say this would make travel by ship a much less attractive option for asylum-seekers.

"It would take away the marketing edge," said Justin Brown, Australia's high commissioner to Canada. "It's one way of starving the oxygen from these ventures."

In a letter addressed to Australia's party leaders in August, Human Rights Watch condemned the proposal.

"Long delays in resettlement could expose refugees, including children, to extended periods of detention, potentially violating the right of all persons to be free from arbitrary detention," the group wrote.