ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mich. (WJRT) - Law enforcement in Michigan and Ontario arrested three illegal aliens who entered the United States and a boat captain accused of smuggling them from Canada in June.
U.S. Border Patrol agents from Marysville observed a boat drive across the St. Clair River and stop on the U.S. shoreline in St. Clair County. Three passengers got off the boat and the captain took off back across the river to Canada.
Border Patrol agents saw the three boat passengers get into a vehicle waiting near the shore. All three passengers were arrested and charged with unlawful entry after being removed from the U.S.
The suspect driving the vehicle was arrested and charged with smuggling illegal aliens.
U.S. and Canadian authorities worked together to arrest the boat captain after he returned to Canada. He is scheduled to appear in a Sarnia, Ont., courtroom in September to face illegal immigration charges.
"Using all our assets we were able to end a smuggling operation," said Chief Patrol Agent John R. Morris of the Detroit Border Patrol Sector. "These arrests display the great teamwork between our Border Patrol agents, Air and Marine operators, and our Canadian law enforcement partners."
Anyone who sees suspicious activity along Michigan's border with Canada should call the Detroit Sector Border Patrol office hotline at 1-800-537-3220.
