Human smuggling charge stayed against man accused of helping foreign nationals cross Manitoba-U.S. border
RCMP alleged Saleh Youssouf, 50, was found near border with 7 foreign nationals
A Calgary man who was arrested for human smuggling after he was accused of helping seven foreign nationals illegally cross the Canadian border into Manitoba last year has had that charge stayed, the national prosecuting authority says.
Saleh Youssouf, 50, was charged under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, shortly after RCMP alleged he was found driving a rented vehicle carrying seven men just north of the Canada-United States border on Jan. 27, 2024.
However, that charge has since been stayed, a Public Prosecution Service of Canada spokesperson told CBC News.
No reasons as to why the court proceedings were stayed were provided on the court's record, the spokesperson said.
A rented vehicle was stopped at the intersection of provincial roads 200 and 201 near Dominion City, Man., after RCMP said they were tipped off by the United States Border Patrol about a group of people walking north along a rail line toward the Canadian border near Emerson, Man., around 3:45 a.m. on Jan. 27, 2024.
They appeared to be wearing proper winter clothing, and were likely to cross into Canada within the hour, RCMP said.
The men in the vehicle ranged in age from 27 to 49 and were from the Republic of Chad in north-central Africa, according to RCMP.
The other men in the vehicle were arrested under the Customs Act and turned over to Canada Border Services Agency immigration officers at the Emerson port of entry, RCMP said.