LEWISTON, N.Y. (WIVB) — Residents along the Niagara River and Lake Ontario are calling on officials to take action after they say they’ve seen an increase sighting of suspicious vehicles, and trespassing in their backyards.
Since this past November, U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Niagara Falls Station along with state and local law enforcement have arrested numerous individuals from over 20 incidents of illegal Niagara River crossings.
On Thursday, those agencies provided an update on what’s being done to solve the problem.
“We have always had rafts and people crossing the river. We’ve always had drugs crossing the river. Now, what has changed between now and then? Why are we having this discussion? It’s the frequency,” said Niagara Falls Border Patrol Agent-in-Charge Brady Waikel.
During an open the public meeting Thursday, Niagara Falls Border Patrol said the last illegal crossing they intercepted was Thursday morning. They say these crossings usually happen at night, typically involving small groups of adult men.