Alleged smuggler charged with assaulting a police officer after operation at the Canada-US border

June 3, 2026 - St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
From: Federal Policing Eastern Region

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On the night of June 2, 2026, a patrol officer from the Champlain Detachment’s Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) was injured while intercepting a vehicle belonging to an alleged migrant smuggler. Following a tip from the United States Border Patrol (USBP), a search operation was launched in the Noyan area in Montérégie to locate five individuals who had just crossed the border illegally.

When an IBET patrol officer intercepted the vehicle in which the migrants were reportedly travelling, the driver allegedly failed to stop and deliberately rammed the door of the police vehicle, injuring the officer in the process. The driver then fled the scene.

Chetan Kumar, 25, was arrested and is facing the following charges:

• Assaulting a peace officer (s. 270(1) CC)
• Dangerous operation (s. 320.13 CC)
• Failure to stop after accident (s. 320.16(1) CC)

The accused remains in custody until his appearance by videoconference on June 5. The five migrants were arrested under section 11 of the Customs Act and were subsequently turned over to the Canada Border Services Agency.

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.

Our Integrated Border Enforcement Teams investigate illegal cross-border activities between ports of entry, including human smuggling and contraband trafficking.

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.

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