Three charged in human smuggling ring

CORNWALL – Three people, including one from Cornwall, are facing human smuggling charges.

The Cornwall Regional Task Force’s Serious and Organized Crime section announced results Tuesday following an eight month police investigation

Three suspects were allegedly smuggling people into the U.S. through Cornwall.

The CRTF says the investigation was launched in the spring after U.S. border agents caught three Polish individuals illegally in the United States.

Over a dozen law enforcement and government agencies have been working on the case.

Police allege the scheme worked by having Polish nationals arrive at the Montreal and Toronto airports where they were met by the suspects.

They were then driven to the Cornwall port of entry where they were smuggled into the U.S. through the Akwesasne territory.

Police have arrested Robert Fitzsimmons, 58, of Cornwall, Marek Albinowski, 65, of Toronto and Wladyslaw Pipien, 69, of Markham.

Albinowski is facing an additional charge of possession of property obtained by crime.

They were held for their first court appearance Tuesday (Dec. 2) in Cornwall.

“I am pleased with the outcome of this investigation,” said Insp. Tim Kimpan, “Through collaborative efforts, with our partner agencies, we were able to dismantle this criminal group and further protect the integrity of our shared border.”