Ontario resident accused of human smuggling after traffic stop in Morden

The Ontario resident, 34, was arrested after police stopped his vehicle shortly before midnight on March 11 in Morden, about 100 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg.

A man is accused of trying to smuggle five people into the United States, following a police traffic stop in southern Manitoba.

The Ontario resident, 34, was arrested after police stopped his vehicle shortly before midnight on March 11 in Morden, about 100 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg.

He had five passengers, four in their 20s and one age 58, all dressed in layers for cold weather. Two of them had valid status in Canada, RCMP said in a news release.

Morden Police Service officers arrested them under the Customs Act. The driver was helping his passengers try to get into the U.S. from Manitoba, the news release says.

The driver is charged with human smuggling and counselling misrepresentation under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. He's being held in custody.

The three passengers who did not have valid status in Canada were turned over to the Canada Border Services Agency.