News release

Two individuals, including a bus driver, charged in connection with human smuggling

March 12, 2025 - Montréal, Quebec
From: Federal Policing Eastern Region

Content

Montréal, March 12, 2025 – An investigation by RCMP Federal Policing – Eastern Region has led to charges laid against two individuals who allegedly facilitated the illegal entry of persons from the United States to Canada. William Lamadine, 36, of Niskayuna, New York, and Yaya Hassan Yaya Abderaman, 35, of Jersey City, New Jersey, are charged with organizing entry into Canada, contrary to section 117 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, conspiracy to organize entry into Canada, and conspiracy to bribe an officer, in this case an employee of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). They were arrested in September 2023 at the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing.

According to the investigation by the Airport and Federal Investigations Detachment, initiated following CBSA procedures, the two men allegedly organized the entry of over 50 migrants into Canada by bus over a period of around three months. William Lamadine was employed as a bus driver for the company used.

A request for extradition to Canada is being considered. The investigation is ongoing.

Ensuring border integrity

The RCMP works with many Canadian and American law enforcement partners, playing an important role in protecting the Canada-US border. Human smuggling is a criminal enterprise that spans the globe. Smugglers facilitate the entry of people into Canada or the United States by illegal means, while making a profit from them. By charging their passengers large sums of money to transport them, human smugglers have turned illegal migration into a lucrative business.

Appeal to the public

Do you have information on the illegal activities of individuals or groups of individuals? Contact the RCMP at 514 939-8300/1 800 771-5401 or your local police department.

Contacts