Following a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) investigation, on March 18, 2026, Sahil Aziz, a 32-year-old U.S. citizen, was sentenced to two-years in prison after pleading guilty to numerous charges in Manitoba Provincial Court.
CBSA reports that Aziz is facing charges of organizing entry into Canada (Human Smuggling), contrary to section 117(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), as well as smuggling into Canada credit card data possessed fraudulently, contrary to section 159(1) of the Customs Act. Aziz received a two-year prison sentence for human smuggling and time served for smuggling credit card data. The full sentence is 34 months.
On February 7, 2025, Aziz attempted to cross into Canada alone at the Emerson port of entry. Upon searching the vehicle, border services officers found multiple identity documents, including one belonging to another individual, as well as a suitcase and cell phone that did not belong to Aziz. Through further investigation, officers were able to verify one other person was with Aziz before he attempted to cross the border on his own. As a result of the information gathered following his attempted crossing at Emerson, CBSA Criminal Investigations officers arrested Aziz
The CBSA obtained a search warrant and gathered additional evidence relating to IRPA misrepresentation and a large quantity of stolen credit card data. On February 18, 2025, the CBSA charged Aziz under the IRPA and Customs Act, and he has remained in custody since his arrest.
“Human smuggling is a serious offence,” said Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety. “The Canada Border Services Agency upholds the integrity of Canada’s immigration system by conducting thorough investigations into human smuggling activities and prosecuting individuals who break our immigration laws. I thank them for their dedication to secure our borders and keep our citizens safe.”
