U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says an attempted smuggling operation on the St. Clair River has resulted in four arrests.
On June 25, officers from the Marysville Border Patrol Station spotted a vessel crossing over from Canada into the United States.
It's alleged three passengers were dropped off on the U.S. side, and got into a waiting vehicle. They were arrested shortly after.
CBP said collaborative efforts between U.S. and Canadian law enforcement resulted in the arrest of the driver of the vessel after he returned to Canada.
Chief Patrol Agent John R. Morris of the Detroit Border Patrol Sector commented on the operation.
"Our commitment to our community’s safety was on full display here. Using all our assets we were able to end a smuggling operation,” said Morris. "These arrests display the great teamwork between our Border Patrol agents, Air and Marine operators, and our Canadian law enforcement partners."
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan has charged the three passengers with re-entry after removal and the driver of the vehicle with alien smuggling.
The vessel driver has a court appearance in Sarnia on September 10.
Anyone with information on suspicious activity is asked to call the Detroit Sector Border Patrol Border Watch telephone number toll-free at 1-800-537-3220.
