CBSA and RCMP intercept human smuggling attempt in Fort Erie

Brent Jones
January 29, 2025 at 5:57 PM

A joint effort by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has thwarted a human smuggling operation near the Niagara River, authorities said Wednesday.

The interception, part of the CBSA’s intelligence initiative Project Disrupt and Deter, occurred along the International Railway Bridge in Fort Erie.

In December 2024, the CBSA launched Project Disrupt and Deter to monitor vulnerable border areas in the Niagara region and gather intelligence on irregular migration. Officials say the program focuses on disrupting organized human smuggling operations.

The latest interception took place when a person jumped from a moving freight train entering Canada and attempted to flee into Fort Erie.

International Railway Bridge. Credit: Canada Border Services Agency

CBSA officers, in collaboration with the RCMP, arrested the individual under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Two other individuals connected to the incident were found nearby and taken into custody for questioning.

The person arrested was assessed under the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement, deemed inadmissible to Canada, and returned to the United States, according to a CBSA statement.

Project Disrupt and Deter is part of a larger strategy, Project Northstar, which focuses on identifying and addressing irregular migration and organized crime at the border. Both initiatives align with Canada’s broader Border Plan, which aims to enhance security and disrupt illegal border crossings.

“Canada’s border plan is working,” said Public Safety Minister David McGuinty in a statement. “The joint efforts between CBSA and RCMP to detect and prevent human smuggling and other criminal activities along the Canada-U.S. border are keeping Canadians and Americans safe.”

Michael Prosia, acting regional director general for the CBSA’s Southern Ontario Region, said the collaboration between the CBSA and RCMP helped ensure public safety.

Superintendent Dale Foote, officer in charge of RCMP border integrity for Central Region Ontario, called the operation a testament to the strong partnership between the two agencies.

“This partnership and collaboration has supported another successful apprehension and serves to prove our continued commitment to securing our borders,” Foote said.

The CBSA and RCMP have distinct responsibilities at Canada’s border. The CBSA oversees enforcement at approximately 1,200 ports of entry, while the RCMP handles enforcement between ports of entry.