Three foreign nationals who attempted to illegally cross into Canada via the Fort Erie railway bridge have been apprehended and returned to the United States, according to a statement issued by the RCMP.
The incident occurred last month, when officers intercepted a group attempting to enter Canada using the bridge, which spans the Niagara River near the U.S.-Canada border. One individual was arrested on the spot, while another was caught shortly after a brief foot chase. The third managed to escape in a waiting vehicle, narrowly missing officers as the driver sped away.
Authorities later identified the escapees as Cuban national Alexander Cardenas and his wife, Yenny Justo. On April 23, both turned themselves in to police. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) confirmed that Cardenas and the other two migrants involved in the border breach were returned to the United States.
Yenny Justo now faces several charges, including dangerous operation of a vehicle, conspiracy, and failure to report under the Customs Act.
The Fort Erie rail bridge has become a known route for unauthorized crossings in recent months. Both the RCMP and CBSA have responded by maintaining round-the-clock surveillance of the area and say the cooperation between the two agencies continues to yield results.
“Our strong partnership with the RCMP has enabled continued success in apprehending those circumventing legal immigration routes,” said Abeid Morgan, director of CBSA’s intelligence and enforcement operations division. “The diligent work of our inland enforcement team led to the identification and apprehension of the individuals in this case.”