04-08-2025
Over 40 migrants 'crammed' into a truck were intercepted in Estrie, Que.
The RCMP logo is seen in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, March 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) intercepted three suspected smugglers and 44 migrants on Saturday night as they attempted to cross the Canadian-American border illegally near Haskell Road, close to Stanstead in Estrie, Que.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says it has never seen a case of this magnitude in the area.
According to CBSA Eastern Border District Director Miguel Bégin, 44 migrants, including children, were 'crammed into a cube truck with no ventilation,' which could have endangered their health.
Three suspected smugglers were arrested and appeared in court while in custody. They are charged with illegally bringing people into Canadian territory and with bringing people into Canada at a location other than an official port of entry.
They remain in custody and could face additional charges.
The 44 migrants were transported to the Highway 55 border crossing in Stanstead.
'Officers and managers responded immediately to receive this group in the middle of the night,' Bégin told The Canadian Press.
The 40 migrants were transported to the Regional Processing Centre in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle to assess their eligibility for immigration procedures, such as asylum claims.
However, Bégin said that some of them have already been returned to the United States because they did not meet the eligibility criteria.
'I have been with the CBSA for 25 years and, to my knowledge, we have never had such a large-scale organized illegal entry in our sector,' added Bégin.
The investigation is ongoing.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Aug. 4, 2025.
