U.S. citizen who illegally drove into Manitoba will be spending time in Canadian jail

Following an investigation by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), a U.S. citizen has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison after being charged with human smuggling.

CBSA says that on Feb. 7, 2025, 32-year-old Sahil Aziz attempted to cross into Canada in a vehicle at the Emerson port of entry between Manitoba and Minnesota.

“Upon searching the vehicle, border services officers found multiple identity documents, including one belonging to another individual, as well as a suitcase and cell phone that did not belong to Aziz,” the agency said.

“Through further investigation, officers were able to verify one other person was with Aziz before he attempted to cross the border on his own. As a result of the information gathered following his attempted crossing at Emerson, CBSA Criminal Investigations officers arrested Aziz.”

CBSA subsequently obtained a search warrant and gathered additional evidence relating to misrepresentation under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and a large quantity of stolen credit card data.

On Feb. 18, 2025, Aziz was charged under both the IRPA and the Customs Act. He remained in custody until his trial.

This week, Aziz was sentenced after pleading guilty in Manitoba Provincial Court to one charge of organizing entry into Canada (human smuggling) and one charge of smuggling into Canada credit card data possessed fraudulently. He received a two-year prison sentence for human smuggling, and time served for smuggling credit card data.

The full sentence is 34 months. He will face deportation upon release.

“Human smuggling is a serious offence,” said Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, in a statement. “I thank (CBSA) for their dedication to secure our borders and keep our citizens safe.”

Janalee Bell-Boychuk, Regional Director General for CBSA’s Prairie Region, added: “The Canada Border Services Agency criminal investigations team in Manitoba worked diligently to investigate this case and provide evidence for a conviction. We will pursue the prosecution of individuals who abuse our immigration system through human smuggling attempts.”

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