Canadian police on Wednesday, Feb. 5, said one person d!ed and 15 were arrested trying to enter Canada from the United States in three incidents in recent weeks.
The police also highlighted efforts to secure the border as US President Donald Trump demands a crackdown.
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Royal Canadian Mounted Police Assistant Commissioner Lisa Moreland said during a televised news conference that the people were of different nationalities and not prepared for the frigid Canadian winter, adding that no fentanyl was found.
Their details were not released because of privacy laws.
On Monday, Feb. 3, just days before the news conference was held, Trump suspended a threat of steep tariffs on Canada and Mexico.
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau secured the tariff suspension after speaking to Trump about efforts to deploy new technology and personnel along the border and to launch cooperative efforts to fight organized crime, fentanyl smuggling and money laundering.
Moreland, showcasing thermal imagery and aerial footage, said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was trying to make it clear that they have the technology and the resources in place to keep their border secure.
It was gathered that in the latest of the three incidents, a man drove into Canada from the Coutts port of entry connecting Montana and Alberta, and tried to flee when stopped for inspection.
Moreland added that the man, a US citizen, d!ed of a self-inflicted firearm injury while being chased by police.
The day before, police caught four adults and five youths near Coutts after being tipped off by US border patrol agents, while six people were arrested after crossing into the central Canadian province of Manitoba on January 14.
Moreland said the people were trying to enter Canada in harsh -20 to -30 Celsius (-4F to -22F) weather.
“They did not have hats, gloves, mittens, or anything that we would normally see in a Canadian winter,” Moreland said of the six arrested in Manitoba.
