MASSENA, N.Y. - U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Massena Border Patrol Station arrested three individuals in connection to a failed smuggling attempt on Sunday afternoon.

On December 8, Border Patrol agents stopped a taxi on State Route 37 near Massena. During the vehicle stop, agents confirmed that two of the passengers were citizens of India who entered the United States illegally and not at a designated port of entry. Both were transported to the Border Patrol Station for processing and charged with Improper Entry by Alien in violation of 8 USC 1325.

The driver, a naturalized United States Citizen originally from India, as well as the passenger, a Lawful Permanent Resident who is also from India, were charged with Alien Smuggling in violation of 8 USC 1324. Alien smuggling is a felony, which carries a penalty of a fine and up to 10 years in prison for each violation.

“The arrests of these human smugglers is another great example of the hard work Border Patrol agents do every day to make our communities safer and secure our nation’s border”, said Wade Laughman, Patrol Agent-In-Charge of the Massena Station.

The Swanton Sector is responsible for securing the land border between ports of entry in Vermont, New Hampshire and northeastern New York. The coordination with assistance of citizens is invaluable to the Border Patrol's border security mission and we welcome community members' help to keep our nation’s borders safe. Please report suspicious activity at 1-800-689-3362.

For more on Customs and Border Protection’s mission at our nation’s ports of entry with CBP officers and along U.S. borders with Border Patrol agents, please visit the Border Security section of the CBP website.