Alleged Cartel-Linked Smuggling Network Exploited Canada-Vermont Border Corridor

Federal prosecutors say Dominican national and Puerto Rican man conspired to move migrants from Mexico, Central and South America into the U.S. through Canada

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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U.S. federal prosecutors have unsealed an indictment alleging that a Dominican national and a U.S. citizen conspired to move foreign nationals from Mexico and Central and South America into the United States by flying them into Canada, staging them through Quebec, and then guiding them on foot and by vehicle across the Vermont border - a pattern investigators say reflects Mexican cartel-linked human-smuggling networks exploiting a 'north border' pathway long viewed as secondary to the U.S.–Mexico frontier.

Why it matters

The case confirms a threat architecture long identified by U.S. and Canadian border authorities, with the direct line between Ottawa's 2016 decision to lift visa requirements for Mexican nationals, the deepening cartel foothold in Canada, and the emergence of the Canada–Vermont corridor as a functioning smuggling pipeline. This highlights ongoing concerns about the exploitation of the northern border by transnational criminal organizations.

The details

The indictment charges Francisco Antonio Luna Rosado, 27, a Dominican national described as illegally present in the United States, and Jesus Hernandez Ortiz, 37, of Puerto Rico, with conspiracy and 12 counts of smuggling foreign nationals into the country for profit. Prosecutors say the men coordinated the movement of groups who first flew from origin countries in Latin America into southern Canada, then crossed the Canadian border into northern Vermont guided by live, shared cellular location data. From there, Luna Rosado relied on an encrypted chat group to dispatch drivers to collect the migrants at prearranged points and transport them south to New York City.

  • From at least August 2022 through March 2024, the alleged smuggling operation was active.
  • On September 17, 2023, the specific crossing event referenced in the indictment occurred.

The players

Francisco Antonio Luna Rosado

A 27-year-old Dominican national described as illegally present in the United States, who is accused of coordinating the movement of migrant groups from Latin America into the U.S. through Canada.

Jesus Hernandez Ortiz

A 37-year-old U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico, who is accused of serving as a driver to transport migrants from the Canada-Vermont border to New York City.

Joint Task Force Alpha

A U.S. Department of Justice initiative that has produced over 435 arrests and 385 convictions related to alien smuggling, and has expanded its mandate to include the Canada-U.S. border region.

Luc Sabourin

A former Canada Border Services Agency officer who has warned that the removal of visa requirements for Mexican nationals in 2016 enabled entry by Mexican cartel members, some of whom have infiltrated the agency.

Kash Patel

The FBI Director who has argued that Mexican cartels, Chinese and Iranian networks are exploiting the Canada-U.S. border as a staging ground to move drugs, humans, and suspected terrorists into American cities.

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What they’re saying

“Where's all the fentanyl coming from still? Where are all the narco-traffickers going to keep bringing this stuff into the country? The northern border.”

— Kash Patel, FBI Director (Congressional testimony)

“When Ottawa removed the visa requirements, more than 400 members of Mexican cartels entered Canada, and CBSA subsequently could not locate many of them, with several hundred believed to be operating freely in the country.”

— Luc Sabourin, Former Canada Border Services Agency officer (Interview)

What’s next

Federal authorities have expanded the mandate of Joint Task Force Alpha to include the Canada-U.S. border region, indicating this issue will remain a priority for law enforcement on both sides of the border.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing vulnerability of the Canada-U.S. border to exploitation by transnational criminal organizations, despite efforts by authorities to crack down on the smuggling networks. It underscores the need for continued cooperation and information-sharing between U.S. and Canadian border agencies to address this cross-border threat.