On September 28, 2024, at approximately 10:35 pm, officers from the RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region's Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) in Manitoba, working with counterparts from the United States Border Patrol, became aware of a border incursion happening approximately seven kilometres east of Emerson, Manitoba, near Road 18 East.
Officers from IBET, Morris, Emerson, and St. Pierre-Jolys RCMP Detachments attended immediately and patrolled the area. An SUV was located in the general location. Officers were able to observe numerous people in the vehicle as well as luggage. A traffic stop was conducted, and officers were able to determine that human smuggling was taking place.
Six people were arrested under the Customs Act and the driver was arrested for human smuggling. All were transported to the Emerson RCMP Detachment.
Of the people arrested under the Customs Act, one male was from the Republic of Sudan, two males and one female were from the Republic of Chad, one male was from Mauritania, and one male was identified as a Permanent Resident of Canada. The subjects are all adults ranging in age from 30 to 53 years old.
Semere Haile, 42, from Winnipeg, was arrested and charged with human smuggling contrary to section 117 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. He was released at the direction of Public Prosecution Service of Canada on several conditions and attended Winnipeg Provincial Court on October 7, 2024.
The six people arrested under the Customs Act were all handed over to the Canada Border Services Agency for processing.
"Crossing the Canada and United States border between the ports of entry is not only an illegal act, but a dangerous one," said Sergeant Lance Goldau, head of IBET in Manitoba. "For everyone's safety, we continue to work closely with our United States counterparts to stop incursions at the border."