Man swims across river to U.S. from Canada, arrested
U.S. border-patrol agents apprehended a citizen of Spain this week after he allegedly swam across the Niagara River from Canada to illegally enter the United States.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said agents responded to a report of an adult male swimming across the Niagara River, just south of the Whirlpool Bridge in Niagara Falls, Tuesday evening.
CBP said agents recovered a life vest and swim fins near the shoreline, however, the suspect was no longer in the area. A vehicle allegedly involved in the incident was identified and a law-enforcement notification on the vehicle was issued to local authorities.
At 3:20 a.m. Wednesday, CBP said Niagara County Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle at a local mall and notified border patrol.
Agents responded to the scene, arrested the suspected swimmer and two other people believed to be involved in the incident.
CBP said the suspected swimmer and one of the people in the vehicle are citizens of Spain. A third person who was revealed to be the driver of the vehicle was determined to be a U.S. citizen.
“This individual placed himself in extreme danger by swimming across the Niagara River in an attempt to illegally enter the U.S. and is lucky to have survived the ordeal,” said Josh Barrett, patrol agent in charge at the Niagara Falls station.
“The river is immensely hazardous with rapids, strong currents and low water temperatures.”
Also Tuesday, U.S. border-patrol agents responded to the Lewiston landing after identifying what appeared to be a suspicious vehicle in the area.
CBP said agents later observed a Canadian vessel drop off two people at the dock. The pair were encountered as they attempted to get into a waiting vehicle. The two people were questioned and it was determined they were illegally present in the United States.
The driver of the vehicle, a Canadian citizen, and two passengers were then arrested by agents.
CBP said during the investigation, it was revealed one of the smuggled people is a citizen of the Dominican Republic, the other a citizen of Mexico.
“The arrest of these individuals demonstrates the dedication to duty our agents exhibit in protecting our border and bringing human smuggling organizations to justice,” said Barrett.