CBP U.S. Border Patrol and Canadian Law Enforcement Intercept Human Smuggling Attempt Along St. Lawrence River

(Tuesday, June 07, 2011)

Wellesley Island, N.Y. - On June 6, The United States Border Patrol in partnership with the Kingston Royal Canadian Mounted Police intercepted a human smuggling operation on the St. Lawrence River near Lansdowne, Ontario.

The joint enforcement action, which included the Canada Border Services Agency, Ontario Provincial Police and the U.S. Border Patrol, successfully intercepted and disrupted a smuggling organization that was operating between Ontario and northern New York state.

The U.S. Border Patrol arrested two citizens of Georgia and one Canadian citizen on the U.S. side of the border. Similarly, Canadian authorities arrested two citizens of Georgia and one Canadian citizen on the Canadian side of the border.

Prosecutions and further investigations are pending in both countries at this time.

The Thousand Islands Integrated Border Enforcement Team is one of fifteen IBET teams across the country located along the U.S. - Canada border. They provide a federally mandated response to national security and criminality along the border.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Contacts For This News Release
Teresa Gallagher
Press Officer (Western New York)
Phone: (716) 774-8602

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 2011_4.xml