The incidence of human trafficking along the southern border of Manitoba, stretching into United States territory, has taken a dramatic upswing. Law enforcement agencies from both Canada and United States, including the Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the US Border Patrol, have reported a startling surge in clandestine crossings this year. Nearly 250 people have endeavored and failed to illicitly traverse the border, blinded by the traffickers’ promise of a dollar-studded utopia.
This illicit trade starkly treats human lives as mere financial assets, according to agent Scott Garrett from the Grand Forks sector. In a recent press conference held at Grand Forks, the bleak recalibration of these statistics was collectively addressed by law enforcement representatives from both countries.
The illicit traversers, often baffled and unequipped to handle the harsh weather conditions and unfamiliar territory of the Manitoba-North Dakota-Minnesota border, are unwittingly walking towards their doom. Sgt. Lance Goldau from the Manitoba RCMP punctuated his concerns about this knowledge gap often resulting in severe injuries and loss of lives.
The chilling revelation further punctuates the harsh reality, as it came almost a year after the gruesome discovery of the lifeless bodies of the Patel family, a family of four from India. They had tried to cross the border near Emerson, Man, in January 2022, and investigators had traced their tragic end back to another human smuggling operation.
Consequently, a resident of Florida is now confronted with charges of human trafficking. The statistics for this year paint a rather grim picture of this illicit trade, with 81 people being detained in 2022, and a staggering 237 apprehensions recorded this year—an alarming increase of nearly 250 per cent.
Smuggling rates reported by US Border Patrol hover menacingly between an extravagant $5000 and $30000, a clear indication of the lucrative nature of this dark commerce. As per Garrett, this spurt in the trafficking activities can be linked back to the exploitability of a relatively less fortified point of entry into the United States as opposed to its southern counterparts.
Garrett also notes that technological advancements and increased surveillance efforts are aiding in tracking and detaining more illegal crossers. Partner agencies from the two nations also make a plea to anyone contemplating illegal border crossings in the upcoming winter, urging them to reconsider, and to prioritize their own safety.
“Consider the consequences,” warned Goldau. “And please, make the journey a safe one, not your last one.”
