Two arrested in Montreal North in alleged human smuggling investigation

Two people have been arrested as RCMP officers search a home in Montreal North as part of an investigation into an alleged human smuggling network.

The RCMP’s federal policing branch for the Eastern Region issued a news release Thursday morning, stating that officers with the Champlain Integrated Border Enforcement Team are carrying out the search.

An alleged smuggler and a migrant were arrested, police said.

The home on De Belleville Avenue between Fleury and Mont-Joli Streets, was allegedly used as temporary lodging for migrants who had just crossed the border illegally, or to hide migrants awaiting illegal passage into the United States.

RCMP officer rammed by vehicle in June

Const. Marie-Pierre Guertin, an RCMP spokesperson, told CTV News that the case in Montreal North is connected to another incident on June 2 in which an alleged human smuggler rammed an officer with his vehicle during an intervention. In that case, RCMP officers received a tip from the United States Border Patrol (USBP) about illegal border crossings in the Noyan area in the Montérégie.

“The driver allegedly failed to stop and deliberately rammed the door of the police vehicle, injuring the officer in the process. The driver then fled the scene,” the Mounties said last month.

Chetan Kumar, 25, is facing charges of assaulting a peace officer, dangerous operation and failure to stop after an accident. Five migrants were also arrested and turned over to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

“We believe that there is a link between those events on June 2 and this alleged human smugglers network,” Guertin said Thursday in an interview.

She said these human smuggling operations are getting more sophisticated since the closure of the Roxham Road crossing in Quebec, as now smugglers are coordinating border crossings with migrants over smartphone apps like Snapchat and WhatsApp.

The RCMP said the search warrant in Montreal North has concluded, but the investigation is ongoing with help from the CBSA and USBP. The migrant arrested at the home has been turned over to the CBSA.

As for the alleged human smuggler, he has not been charged. He was released from custody on a promise to appear in court at a later date and must follow certain conditions.

The RCMP is asking anyone with information about illicit activities to contact them at 514-939-8300 or 1-800-771-5401, or to reach out to their local police force.