Technology Assisting Border Patrol Agents on St. Clair River

Selfridge ANGB, Mich. – Enhanced technology has helped U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Marysville station crack down on illegal smuggling activities happening along the St. Clair River. Over the past several days, agents monitoring the Remote Video Surveillance System (RVSS) have detected three separate smuggling attempts

The first case happened in the early morning of Oct. 16. RVSS operators observed a suspicious vessel traversing U.S. waters in Clay Township, Mich. When agents responded to the location of the vessel, information came into the dispatch center of a vehicle in the area thought to be involved with the vessel’s activity. The vehicle was spotted by agents who then performed a vehicle stop. One of the men in the vehicle was determined to be an illegal alien. Agents were given consent to search the vehicle and found $56,000 in U.S. currency, four stolen handguns and an assortment of jewelry.

The second case happened on Oct. 23, when RVSS operators observed a subject being dropped off by boat near a restaurant in Algonac. Agents arrived on scene and arrested the individual who turned out to be a previously deported illegal alien. A short time later, a vehicle believed to be involved in the smuggling attempt was stopped by agents in Clay Township. The driver had several thousand of dollars in Canadian currency in his possession.

The third case, happened on Oct. 26, at approximately 11 p.m. RVSS operators observed a small boat entering U.S. waters in Algonac. The boat pulled into downtown Algonac and three individuals exited the boat and ran across M29. Border Patrol agents determined tthe subjects are illegally present in the United States and apprehended all three subjects.

All three incidents remain under investigation at this time.

The RVSS is part of the The Northern Border Project, which is an initiative to enhance the use of technology in securing the Northern Border against illegal cross-border activity. Each RVSS site is comprised of a total of four cameras – two day and two night cameras for 24/7 operations. The cameras are monitored from a remote location. The Detroit Sector deployment consists of 11 RVSS sites along the St. Clair River.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.