Manitoba border news: an American man who drove up to the Sprague port of entry with another man hiding in his minivan trunk has been sentenced to one year in prison, after the hidden man told investigators he paid $1,000 US to get over the border.
By Maplestime News Desk | Winnipeg, Manitoba | November 12, 2026
Sources: CBC News, Canada Border Services Agency | Last updated: November 12, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Annan Nigel Ferguson, 50, a United States citizen, was sentenced November 4 to one year in prison, with about three months left to serve after pre sentence custody.
- Temitope Omofuyi Davies, 46, pleaded guilty August 19 to failure to report and was sentenced to time served, equal to 156 days in prison.
- On May 7, 2026, CBSA officers at Sprague searched Ferguson’s minivan after finding inconsistencies in his declaration and found Davies hiding in the trunk.
- Davies told investigators he paid Ferguson $1,000 US to get him over the border, and money was found in Ferguson’s wallet.
- Both men were charged May 8 under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and held in custody until sentencing.
- Davies had previously been caught trying to enter Canada between ports of entry near Surrey, British Columbia.
What happened at Sprague
Sprague sits on Highway 12 in the southeastern corner of Manitoba, about 150 kilometres from Winnipeg. On May 7, Ferguson drove his minivan, which had a United States licence plate, up to the port of entry. Border officers found inconsistencies in Ferguson’s declaration statement, searched the vehicle and found Davies hiding in the trunk. Both men were arrested by Canada Border Services Agency officers.
The sentences
Both men pleaded guilty in a Winnipeg court to offences under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Ferguson pleaded guilty to aiding or abetting failure to report and was sentenced November 4 to a year in prison; after pre sentence custody is taken into account, he has about three months left to serve. Davies pleaded guilty to failure to report, entered his plea August 19 and was sentenced to time served, equivalent to 156 days in prison. Both were charged May 8 and held in custody until sentencing. The sentencings happened in August and November; the news today is the CBSA announcement of the outcome.
The $1,000 payment
When CBSA investigators interviewed Davies, he admitted he paid Ferguson $1,000 US to get him over the border, and money was found in Ferguson’s wallet. Davies had previously been caught trying to enter Canada between ports of entry near Surrey, British Columbia.
#CBSA criminal investigation into stowaway attempt at #Manitoba border crossing leads to prison sentences for two individuals. Learn more:
November 12, 2026
Maplestime will provide updates from the Sprague border case as announcements are made.
Have a tip about border enforcement in Manitoba? Email [email protected]
Have a correction? Email [email protected]
Should hiding a person in a trunk to cross the border carry a longer sentence than a year, or does the time served fit the crime? Tell us in the comments. And share this with every Canadian watching the Manitoba border.
Enjoying Maplestime? Support independent Canadian journalism — no paywall, no corporate owners.
