DETROIT.- U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Marysville Station along with help from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Homeland Security Investigations arrested six individuals after disrupting a smuggling attempt on August 26, 2016.
On August 26, 2016, U.S. Border Patrol agents patrolling along the St. Clair River observed two individuals, board the boat “Sacrebleu” and head straight into Canadian waters. The agents immediately communicated to Canadian law enforcement partners of the boat and its location. Personnel from Sarnia RCMP were able to make visual contact with the boat and witnessed four or five individuals board the boat. RCMP then advised the Border Patrol agents that the boat was headed back towards the United States.
“This was an outstanding coordinated effort between two countries,” said Chief Patrol Agent Douglas Harrison. Our agents keen sense of situational awareness and our interoperability with RCMP were instrumental in coordinating this cross border smuggling attempt.”
At approximately 2:40 p.m., the “Sacrebleu” landed back at the River Street Marina in Port Huron, MI, where six individuals were taken into custody for illegal entry into the United States.
Border Patrol Agent overlooking the St. Clair River
«Human smuggling can have disastrous implications to our national security, international relations, public health, economic/labour market and affects the integrity of our Immigration system.” RCMP Superintendent Jamie Jagoe commented. «Through collaborative efforts, with our partner agencies, we are always working to protect the integrity of our shared border”.
Piotr Lisiecki, the boat driver and a male citizen of Poland, was charged with 8 U.S. Code § 1324 – Bringing in and harboring certain aliens and 8 U.S. Code § 1325 – Improper entry by alien
Mona Dolinska, Maria Hauf, Jan Hauf, Roman Kowalski, and Wanda Kowalska, all citizens of Poland, were charged with 8 U.S. Code § 1325 – Improper entry by alien.
The case has been accepted for prosecution by the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Michigan in coordination with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
