A suspicious package forced the closure of the Lacolle border crossing in Montérégie in both directions on Thursday evening.
It was around 6:30 p.m. when the Border Services Agency called for help from the Sûreté du Québec regarding a suspicious package.
“The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) can confirm that a law enforcement operation is underway at the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing, Route 15. We actively work with our partners in the USCBP and the Sureté du Québec. said Maria Ladouceur, spokeswoman for the CBSA, in an email to the QMI agency.
For its part, the SQ was still in the process of verification at 9 p.m. “Blasting technicians are on site,” said Stéphane Tremblay, spokesman for the SQ.
For its part, Quebec 511 pointed out that Highway 15 South is closed indefinitely.
In St-Bernard-de-Lacolle, CLOSURE of#A15 south of Montée Guay indefinitely // Incident.
— Quebec 511 (@Qc511_Mtl) June 8, 2023
With customs closed on both sides, travelers will be diverted to other service points such as Route 221 and Route 223 in Lacolle, while commercial vehicles will be diverted to the St-Armand/Philipsburg border crossing, a CBSA said.
“The health and safety of the public and our officers is of the utmost importance to the CBSA,” Ms. Ladouceur said.
All lanes of the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing, Route 15, are closed to traffic due to an ongoing police operation. Please proceed to the adjacent Route 223, Route 221, and Hemingford boarding points. pic.twitter.com/4O64zlxbZU
– Border Services QUE (@BrontiereCanQUE) June 9, 2023