The owner of the Smuggler91裸聊视频檚 Inn Bed & Breakfast in Blaine, Wash., is facing a number of charges relating to the smuggling of people into Canada.
A bail hearing was held in Surrey Provincial Court Wednesday for Robert Joseph Boule, who has been charged with 30 offences, including several under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. A final decision on bail is expected to be handed down April 25.
Among the charges, Boule is facing 16 counts of counselling offences relating to knowingly inducing, aiding or abetting 16 people in illegally attempting to enter Canada.
The offences are alleged to have occurred at various times between April 2016 and March 2019.
The Smugglers Inn is located on the U.S. side of 0 Avenue at 184 Street.
In 2010, Canadian Geographic published an article on Boule and his experience watching as people illegally crossed the border, which runs through the backyard of the Smuggler91裸聊视频檚 Inn.
91裸聊视频淲e see people in our yard almost every night. Just keep your eyes open,91裸聊视频� Boule told the magazine, adding that, from time to time he would receive 91裸聊视频渧ague91裸聊视频� overtures from people asking whether he was interested in making some money.
91裸聊视频淚 tell them, 91裸聊视频楽orry, you misunderstand,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� said Boule, who has named rooms in his bed and breakfast for historic criminals, and whose personalized vehicle licence plate reads SMUGLER.
Bellingham lawyer Greg Boos said outside court Wednesday that he has known Boule for 91裸聊视频減robably two decades91裸聊视频� and referred to him as 91裸聊视频渁 pillar of the Blaine community and all the of the economic development community of Whatcom County.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 been trying to do things to make the community a better place for tourism, a better place for business,91裸聊视频� he said, adding that he was surprised to hear of Boule91裸聊视频檚 arrest.
91裸聊视频淏ob is straight and narrow,91裸聊视频� he said.
Boos said he was not surprised at the frequency of illegal crossings of the border on Zero Avenue in the vicinity of Smuggler91裸聊视频檚 Inn.
91裸聊视频淓verybody knows. People cross all along the U.S.-Canada border. Peace Arch Park is notorious for people crossers; the area that Bob is in, so close to the border, is notorious.91裸聊视频�
He said the problem has been exacerbated by the Trump administration91裸聊视频檚 refugee policy, in spite of offical claims from Canada that the U.S. remains a safe third country for refugees.
91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 a fiction,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淎ll of these people that maybe would otherwise be filing a refugee claim in the U.S. are fleeing to Canada because they know that their claim would not be dealt with properly.91裸聊视频�
He said Canadian law has been a 91裸聊视频渄river for refugees crossing the border illegally, because they will be turned away at the legal border crossings.91裸聊视频�
Asked to characterize Boule, Boos said 91裸聊视频淏ob has a heart of gold. He91裸聊视频檚 had a family of five living in his carriage house for over a year without paying any money, because their trailer home burned down.91裸聊视频�
While taking a photo of the Smuggler91裸聊视频檚 Inn property on Tuesday, a Peace Arch News reporter was pulled over by the RCMP. The officer, who was in the general area at the time, questioned him about why he was out of his car in the area, and subsequently let him go.
The officer told PAN he had been parked nearby.
aaron.hinks@peacearchnews.com
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