Ontario man found in Detroit River carrying 265-pound bag of cannabis

U.S. federal agents pulled Mousseau, 49, out of the river close to Celeron Island after he leapt from his boat following a police boat chase. Mousseau was unconscious and the bag of cannabis was tied to his body with a tow strap.

“Smugglers try out all means when trying to smuggle things into the United States,” said Kris Groan, a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in an interview with Detroit News.

Mousseau's arrest has led to authorities uncovering a smuggling ring between the Detroit-Windsor border involving drugs, an alleged "emergency funeral," a submersible and U-Haul that was full of cash.

Mousseau was initially arrested for driving a U-Haul that was carrying $97,000 in cash, in a large plastic bag while in St. Clair County, Michigan. Mousseau told police that he was unaware of the cash inside of the vehicle.

Homeland Security agents released an affidavit that revealed Mousseau later confessed to using a submersible to transport drugs and cash back and forth between Ontario and Michigan. Court documents also show Mousseau was in contact with other individuals to coordinate GPS locations for smuggle the money back into Ontario. Mousseau claims to have smuggled cannabis, cocaine, and cash back and forth on more than one occasion.

Mousseau also confessed ownership of a submersible that was seized on Zug Island on April 23, admitting that it was used by his helpers to ferry illegal goods to across the river.

Court documents show that Mousseau agreed to stay in a hotel in Flat Rock, Michigan, while police continued their investigation however he fled the hotel on May 22, citing an "emergency funeral" for his departure.

Federal agents say that they found items left in Mousseau's hotel room such as five different cell phones, a dry suit that is used for diving, a laptop, a driver's licence and Canadian passport that had been reported stolen.

In the early morning of Friday, June 5, federal agents spotted a boat crossing the the international border close to Celeron Island and decided to pursue it. The chase ended after agents noticed two large bundles fall over the boat.

“While approaching the floating bundles, agents observed a man, later identified as Mousseau, unconscious in the water,” wrote Christopher Leonard, a special agent for Homeland Security in the affidavit.

Once Mousseau was pulled from the water, agents pulled on the tow strap attached to his body until it revealed the bag carrying 264 pounds of cannabis.

On Friday, Mousseau appeared in court facing charges of drug possession, smuggling and immigration charges. If convicted he could serve up to 10 years in prison. Mousseau has been held without bond and will appear again in court on Tuesday.