Police seized more than $1 million in U.S. currency after Bryson Villeneuve, and Robert Hough were arrested as they landed at Crystal Beach.

Police seized more than $1 million in U.S. currency after two of the men were arrested when they came ashore at Crystal Beach. The money — $1,077,000 — had been vacuum-sealed in clear plastic and stuffed into several duffel bags. “That’s a lot of money, the most I’ve ever seen,” Acting Insp. Brian Richardson of Niagara Regional Police said Thursday. Police also seized a twin-engine cigarette-style power boat worth an estimated $350,000. The 10-metre boat wasn’t involved in Wednesday’s pursuit. Richardson said the arrests followed an investigation launched by the NRP about three months ago. “They had information criminal activity was taking place in the middle of Lake Erie,” he said. NRP investigators notified U.S. officials that a boat suspected of being involved in criminal activity had entered American waters Wednesday morning. U.S. Border Patrol officers in a boat ordered the vessel to stop, but it turned around and headed for the Canadian shore, police said.
Two men carrying several duffel bags fled the boat at a public boat launch at Crystal Beach and were arrested by the provincial biker enforcement unit.
The boat’s driver headed back to the American side with the U.S. Border Patrol in pursuit.The man, who has not yet been identified, was arrested by U.S. officials and charged for failing to stop for authorities. Police seized the boat.
A subsequent search led American police to seize nearly half a kilogram of marijuana and $38,000 US cash. The two men arrested in Crystal Beach have been identified as Bryson Villeneuve, 26, and Robert Hough, 28, both of Cornwall. Each is charged with laundering the proceeds of crime and possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000. Several law enforcement groups were involved in the bust, including NRP, central region detective services Unit, the provincial biker enforcement unit, the integrated proceeds of crime unit and the border enforcement safety task force, which includes members from the Canada Border Service Agency and U.S. Customs.
Wednesday’s arrests came the same day as the NRP held a news conference to reveal details of a major drug bust. The previous joint-forces investigation resulted in more than 75 charges against 20 people and netted 35 kilograms of marijuana, 120 marijuana plants, five kilograms of cocaine and $830,000 in cash. NRP Chief Wendy Southall was buoyed by the two cases.