A Cuban national was arrested in mid-March 2025 after attempting to enter Canada illegally by running across the Fort Erie International Railway Bridge. The arrest was made by the RCMP’s Niagara-on-the-Lake Border Integrity Unit, in collaboration with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) as part of Ontario’s Operation Deterrence.
The individual’s attempt to enter Canada was thwarted when RCMP officers, with the support of OPP, were able to locate and apprehend the individual under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. After being taken into custody, the person was transported to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) at the Peace Bridge port of entry in Fort Erie, where an assessment revealed the individual was ineligible for entry. As a result, the person was returned to the United States on the same day.
The RCMP’s Niagara-on-the-Lake Border Integrity Unit maintains a 24/7 presence at the Fort Erie railway bridge, a known hotspot for attempted illegal crossings. Recently, the RCMP has arrested multiple individuals attempting to make illegal entries at the same location. All those arrested have been returned to the U.S.
RCMP officers continue to patrol the border area, utilizing land, water, and aerial surveillance to prevent and disrupt cross-border criminal activity. The RCMP’s ongoing collaboration with the CBSA and OPP has been instrumental in maintaining the security of Canada’s borders.
Sgt. Lepa Jankovic, of the Niagara-on-the-Lake RCMP Border Integrity Unit, emphasized the positive results from increased investments in law enforcement along the Canadian border.
Michael Prosia, Acting Regional Director General of the Southern Ontario Region for CBSA, echoed the importance of this partnership:
“The CBSA and RCMP work in close partnership to maintain the security of our borders. This is yet another example of how our collaboration contributes to protecting the integrity of our border and the safety of our communities.”
Border security in Canada is a shared responsibility between the CBSA and the RCMP. The CBSA handles enforcement at 1,200 ports of entry, while the RCMP is responsible for areas between ports.
The RCMP’s Niagara-on-the-Lake Border Integrity Unit focuses on preventing and detecting cross-border smuggling, supporting four CBSA ports of entry, and conducting criminal investigations related to border security.
The unit is also tasked with protecting the border area between Cobourg, Ontario, and Port Burwell, Ontario, including monitoring vessel compliance when entering Canada.
Anyone with information regarding smuggling, drug importation, or other illegal activity is encouraged to contact the Ontario RCMP at 1-800-387-0020, the confidential CBSA Border Watch line at 1-888-502-9060, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
The continued partnership between the RCMP, CBSA, and other law enforcement agencies remains crucial in securing Canada’s borders and ensuring the safety of communities across the country.
