Erin Haluschak
Record Staff
Investigators from the Comox Valley RCMP, supported by provincial and RCMP officers in Canada and abroad, have completed significant investigative work aimed at locating four missing children from the Comox Valley.
Cpl. Darren Lagan, RCMP Island District spokesman said since receiving initial details on Aug. 15, work has included extensive communication with international law enforcement partners and INTERPOL, obtaining and executing a search warrant in the Comox Valley.
According to a public crowd sourcing campaign, Dr. Salahaddin Mahmudi Azer (Saren), a Comox Valley resident, left the country with his four children.
INTERPOL has identified the four children as Sharvahn Delahn Mahmudi-Azer, 11, Rojevahn Beritan Mahmudi-Azer, 9, Dersim Baran Mahmudi-Azer, 7, and Meitan Serbast Mahmudi-Azer, 3.
Lagan said investigators are taking steps to restrict further international travel by the father and children.
"While the children were legally permitted to leave Canada with their father, his failure to return them to Canada as scheduled led to an order by the Supreme Court of British Columbia (Aug. 21) requiring that the children be immediately returned to the custody of their mother in B.C," said Lagan in an email to The Record.
On Aug. 24, Comox Valley RCMP sought and obtained a Canada Wide Warrant of Arrest for Azer, in relation to charges of Abduction in Contravention of a Custody Order, contrary to Section 282 of the Criminal Code of Canada.
"We understand how difficult this situation is for the children’s mother and others in the community," added Lagan. "The safety and security of Canadian children, both at home and abroad, is of the utmost importance to the RCMP, and we will continue our efforts to locate and safely return these children to British Columbia."
The Azer family did not want to go into further details with The Record at this time.
If you have any information on the location of Saren Mahmudi Azer or his four children, contact your local police force, or the Comox Valley RCMP at 250-338-1321.
To view the INTERPOL missing persons page for the children, visit interpol.int , access the missing persons page (menu on right side of home page) and type in the surname (last name) Azer.