Last Update: March 02, 2023, 11:52 AM IST
Police work near a crime scene in Monterey Park, California. (AFP)
On February 20, Border Patrol dispatchers spotted a vessel crossing the international border near a known smuggling route on the St. Clair River and immediately contacted agents in the area.
Two Indian nationals were among five persons arrested by US border officials after they illegally entered the country from Canada by boat.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a statement on Wednesday that US Border Patrol agents from the Detroit Sector arrested five foreign nationals during an attempted smuggling operation near Algonac in the US state of Michigan.
It said that late on February 20, Border Patrol dispatchers monitoring a remote video surveillance system spotted a vessel crossing the international border on the St Clair River near a known smuggling route and immediately contacted agents in the area.
Agents responded to the area and encountered five people in the immediate vicinity of where the vessel was seen headed toward the shoreline. The five men admitted that they had crossed the border into Canada by boat.
Agents also noticed that two migrants were completely drenched and shivering due to the cold temperatures. The men told agents that they had fallen into the river while getting off the boat.
All five persons were then taken into custody and taken to a local station for processing.
“During the processing phase of the investigation, agents identified two subjects from India and the remainder from Nigeria, Mexico and the Dominican Republic,” CBP said.
Individuals being prosecuted for US immigration violations.
“Smugglers tried to take advantage of the darkness and cold temperatures to hide their criminal activity. Bad guys will go to great lengths to avoid arrest, putting themselves and others in danger, said Chief Patrol Agent Robert Denly.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)