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EMERSON, Man. — A Calgary man has been arrested for human smuggling after police allege he picked up foreign nationals who crossed on foot into Manitoba from the United States last month. 

Mounties in Manitoba say they received information from the United States Border Patrol that a group was walking northbound along a rail line toward the Canadian border near the town of Emerson. 

Border patrol indicated the individuals were wearing proper winter clothing and were likely to cross into Canada within the hour. 

Police say officers conducted a traffic stop near the community of Dominion City, north of the border, and found a man driving a vehicle with seven male occupants.

RCMP say the men, ranging in age from mid-twenties to late forties, were confirmed to be from the Republic of Chad. 

Saleh Youssouf, who is 49-years-old, was arrested for human smuggling and appeared in Winnipeg court on Jan. 29. 

The seven men in the vehicle were arrested under the Customs Act and turned over to officers with the Canada Border Services Agency.

RCMP and Canadian border services officers continue to investigate. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 6, 2024.

The Canadian Press