Two criminals have been deported by Canada Border Services, one of them a known gang member involved in the early days of a high-profile deadly dispute between rival groups in Calgary.

Sunwoong Youn, known as Jason Youn, was deported to Korea last month while Mauricio Alberto Cardona Orellana, said to be a gang member in Medicine Hat, was sent to his El Salvador homeland this month.

Both were deported because of serious criminality and permanently barred from returning, Canada Border Services Agency spokeswoman Lisa White said.

"These removals send a clear message the CBSA is committed to removing those who break our laws and endanger the safety and security of Canadians," she said.

Police Chief Rick Hanson applauded the deportation of Youn, who he called "a sufficiently high-up player" in the gang realm, at the same time questioning why it takes so long to see known criminals booted from Canada.

"It's taken four years," he said.

"The question again has to be asked, 'Is four years a reasonable amount of time?' "

Hanson said not only do such individuals pose a risk just by criminal involvement, but "they have nothing to lose" given pending deportation, which only increases the peril they pose.

"The ones that should be sent back should be sent back a lot quicker than they are," he said.

"This is a long convoluted process and the last consideration is the safety of society."

He said one advantage of media attention garnered by the case of Jackie Tran, an alleged gang member fighting deportation for several years now, is the spotlight it puts on the issue.

"It has allowed for public debate so people can see for themselves the frustrations we see," he said. "It has allowed people to formulate their own opinions, it is not just police beating the drum."

Youn survived a 2002 Southcentre mall shooting but a bullet ended up in his spine, leaving him with paralysis in his leg and a perforated bowel requiring him to wear a colostomy bag for months.

FK member Linju Ly was said to be the driver of the car, and Michael Oduneye the gunman.

Six days later, Ly was gunned down outside his parents' Renfrew home.

Police spokesman Kevin Brookwell said the incidents, "arguably triggers the gang dispute," which this past New Year's Day saw three people gunned down at a restaurant.

Over the years, police spent time and resources to monitor Youn while he was in the community.

Youn was convicted in 2005 of weapons-related offences while Cardona had a drug-related conviction.

NADIA.MOHARIB@SUNMEDIA.CA