RCMP charge 3 suspected human smugglers as Canada promises border crackdown
3 men from Quebec facing charges of conspiracy to commit an offence in the U.S.
Three men from Quebec are facing conspiracy charges after allegedly helping to smuggle people across the border into the United States, the RCMP said Tuesday.
Edward Alejandro Rojas Sanchez, 24, Julian Camilo Rojas Murcia, 27 and Fernando Esparza Dominguez, 33, are charged with conspiracy to commit an offence in the U.S.
Two of the men are from Montreal and one is from the suburb of Laval.
The men allegedly conspired to transport a group of people from Montreal to an unguarded location on the Canada-U.S. border, on at least one occasion, according to the RCMP.
The investigation by the RCMP's Estrie integrated border enforcement team began in December 2023 and was based on a tip from the public, said Cpl. Martina Pillarova with the RCMP's communications office.
"Temporary foreign workers were dealing with a network of suspected smugglers in order to help them cross illegally to the United States," said Pillarova.
She says the RCMP cannot confirm when the suspected smugglers were able to help people cross the border, but says according to the investigation, they allegedly required each person to pay $4,000.
She says migrants were dropped off and guided remotely by a cell phone and given instructions on how to proceed into the United States.
Experts say these charges draw attention to Canada's attempt to secure the border, especially following the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking to reporters on his return to the Oval Office Monday, Trump recited concerns about the Canadian and Mexican borders while reiterating his threat to hit both countries with a sweeping 25 per cent tariff.
When asked about the timing of the charges in relation to the political situation with the U.S., Pillarova said it's a "coincidence" that the RCMP laid charges last week.
'Sends a message to Washington,' says law professor
Securing the border has moved to the centre of Canada-U.S. relations, says Elliot Tepper, political analyst at Carleton University.
On the Canadian side, he says this case will be treated as evidence that Canada is in control of its border and an example of "effective" law enforcement activities.
But he says it's "highly likely" that the Trump administration will use it as additional evidence to charge that the border is a security concern.
"Almost certainly they're not going to compliment us on this but rather use it as another example of how we are barely in control of a border that's so important to the Canada-U.S. relationship," said Tepper.
He says the case comes back to the centrepiece of the Trump campaign — the pledge to secure the border.
"The messaging in this case is important," said François Crépeau, a law professor at McGill University who has worked on immigration issues for 40 years.
He says Canada will want to show the U.S. they are collaborating.
"Through diverse means ... arresting people and charging them with migrant smuggling is a good way to do that. I'm not saying it's opportunistic, but it really responds to a great incentive that was created by the threats of President Trump," said Crépeau.
He said the tactic is meant to show the public that Canada is taking all necessary steps to prevent these crimes. "That sends a message to Washington."
Crépeau says human smuggling can easily be confused with human trafficking — the latter of which involves people who are exploited for the sex trade or forced labour.
He says human smuggling, on the other hand, is similar to a contract between two individuals.
"They are local people taking advantage of having a car or knowing the area …It's an illegal activity, but it's very low-key. However, presenting it as a horrible crime has been a trademark of law enforcement and border policing," said Crépeau.
He says the more limits placed on migration, "the more human and migrant smuggling you will have."
Under Canadian law, if a person is found guilty of smuggling one person across the border, it is punishable with up to 14 years in prison — equivalent to sexual aggression with a weapon, says Crépeau.
Pillarova with the RCMP says the three men charged with conspiracy could be fined up to $1 million and possibly imprisoned for life.
She says the three individuals were arrested in the spring of 2024, but have since been released. They will appear at the Montreal courthouse on Feb. 4.
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With files from Vanessa Lee