Photo credit: Toronto Star
The RCMP in Manitoba has said six people from multiple countries were caught last week trying to illegally cross into Canada from the United States.
CTV News reports the police as saying the group was spotted from the air crossing the border on foot near Emerson on January 14.
Officers said some were not dressed for the freezing temperatures, and an ambulance was called to ensure their safety.
The six were from Jordan, Sudan, Chad and Mauritania.
They were arrested and transferred to the Canada Border Services Agency.
The arrests came amid heightened concerns over illegal border crossings.
Mounties bolstered their presence in the border area with Black Hawk helicopters this week as Donald Trump formally took over as US president.
Trump has called on Canada to stem cross-border traffic in illegal migrants and drugs. He has threatened to impose tariffs to back his demands.
Aerial surveillance is part of Canada’s $1.3 billion upgrade to border security and monitoring in response to Trump.
The illegal traffic has been a long-standing concern at the Manitoba border.
