Man Charged with Assisting Eight Foreign Nationals in Illegally Crossing into Canada

A resident of Winnipeg, originally from Somalia, faces serious allegations regarding human trafficking. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Abshir Mohamed Osman, aged 35, was apprehended after eight individuals from Africa were spotted illegally making their way into Manitoba from the United States late last month.

On August 22, police discovered Osman driving a rental car that contained these eight individuals close to the port of entry managed by the Canada Border Services Agency in Gretna, Manitoba. The migrants ranged in age from 19 to 48 and hailed from countries including Chad, Guinea, and Sudan. They were arrested under the Customs Act for their unauthorized entry.

Osman, a Somali national residing in Winnipeg, faces charges and has been released under several conditions. His next court appearance is slated for October 16 at Emerson Provincial Court. Authorities observed as the group unlawfully crossed the border before entering the vehicle he was operating.

The eight migrants are currently in the custody of the Canada Border Services Agency for further processing. Sergeant Lance Goldau, who leads Manitoba’s Integrated Border Enforcement Team, noted that the investigation is ongoing. Officers, equipped with language skills in Arabic and French, conducted interviews with the migrants to facilitate communication during the process.