Photo courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Twelve people from Great Britain and Ireland were arrested in Minnesota after trying to enter the U.S. illegally.

It happened two weeks ago near Roseau.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection says two vehicles entered illegally from Manitoba on September 25.

Three people from Ireland and one from Great Britain were picked up in Grygla, about 70 kilometres south.

With the assistance of an International Falls Border Patrol Agent and the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Department, eight others, seven from Great Britain and one from Ireland, would be located and taken into custody the next day near Bemidji.

“This was a great response by our agents,” Chief Patrol Agent Anthony S. Good said in a release. “The communication and collaboration between two of our stations was the reason we were able to catch the migrants. As a reminder, it is unlawful to enter the United States anywhere other than a designated Port of Entry.”

All of the individuals and vehicles were taken to Warroad for further processing.

One of the vehicles was seized.