Canadian 'coyotes' use TikTok to sell human smuggling services to would-be border crossers: report

Human smuggling "coyotes" from Canada have been using TikTok to advertise illegal crossings into the US through the northern border, offering services for as much as $5,000, according to a report by the New York Post.

The smugglers primarily target foreign nationals from India and have been operating on TikTok for nearly a year. Although their accounts are frequently removed, new ones continue to pop up to replace the deleted accounts. According to the Post, the illegal immigration ads typically feature a US flag over a wooded northern border, accompanied by Indian music, and encourage users to direct message them for details.

TikTok posts include phrases such as “Payment after reach” and “100% safe.” One post advertised a crossing fee of “$4,000 cheapest in market.”

The New York Post was able to get in contact with one smuggler, who quoted a price of $4,500 per person to cross into upstate New York from Montreal. “When you ready to go, send me your ID,” the smuggler said.

The trip reportedly begins in Montreal, Brampton, or Surrey and ends in upstate New York or Washington state. The route to New York includes a two-hour car ride followed by a 25-minute walk through the woods. Migrants are then provided with a map to guide them past official checkpoints, with up to five people crossing at a time.

Border apprehensions of Indian nationals along the northern US border have decreased since President Donald Trump took office, falling from about 4,500 apprehensions per month to 2,900. In 2024, Indians accounted for nearly a quarter of all apprehensions along the northern border, the largest group. On average, over 100 Indian nationals are caught daily on the Canada-US border, with illegal crossings tripling in the past two years, according to data from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The decline in crossings follows Trump’s pressure on Canada to strengthen its border security, including threats of tariffs. The northern border has long been seen as easier to cross compared to the southern border, with residents frequently reporting sightings of illegal crossings.

"This type of behavior is indicative of the culture of incompetence and just how brazen drug trafficking and human smuggling had become under the previous administration,” said Rep. Jeff Van Drew. “Well, I’ve got news for these criminals — there’s a new sheriff in town.”