A search and rescue operation led by RCMP Federal Policing – Eastern Region patrol officers resulted in the rescue of five people near the Canada-US border around Hinchinbrooke, in the Montérégie region, overnight from Saturday to Sunday.
The Valleyfield Detachment Integrated Border Enforcement Team began the search based on a tip from the United States Border Patrol (USBP). The operation, which involved 20 police officers, took around eight hours. When found, all five individuals were suffering from hypothermia and were unable to continue their journey. The investigation found that they had just crossed illegally from the United States to Canada. A driver and an alleged smuggler were arrested: the smuggler was released on a promise to appear and will face charges, while the driver was taken into custody by the Canada Border Services Agency.
The Black Hawk helicopter, recently chartered to support border protection efforts, as well as the Emergency Response Team (ERT), also were also engaged in this operation.
Ensuring border integrity
The RCMP works with many Canadian and American law enforcement partners, playing an important role in protecting the Canada-US border. Human smuggling is a criminal enterprise that spans the globe. Smugglers facilitate the entry of people into Canada or the United States by illegal means, while making a profit from them. By charging their passengers large sums of money to transport them, human smugglers have turned illegal migration into a lucrative business.
Our Integrated Border Enforcement Teams investigate illegal cross-border activities between ports of entry, including human smuggling and contraband trafficking.
Appeal to the public
Do you have information on the illegal activities of individuals or groups of individuals? Contact the RCMP at 514-939-8300/1-800-771-5401 or your local police department.