Federal authorities are asking for help finding two men who hijacked a boat and entered the United States from Canada illegally.
The incident started when three men approached a Canadian father and son, and offered to pay a fee, if they could go out on the Niagara River for some fishing and photography of Fort Niagara.
When the teenager expressed concern that the group was not dressed appropriately for the weather conditions, one of the men left, but two others continued out on the boat.
The Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Canada's Niagara Regional Police and the Niagara County Sheriff's Office say the pair got on an 16-foot fishing vessel around 11:00 a.m. Tuesday morning at the Queenston, Ontario Sand Docks in Niagara-on-the-Lake. After being on the water for approximately two hours, the two men ordered the teenage boat captain by knife point to take them to shore in the U.S.
The men were dropped off just east of Fort Niagara in the backyard of a residence near Lake Road, Youngstown, N.Y.
The men left on foot and were last seen on Lake Road. Both men had cell phones and began making phone calls as they fled. A shoreline search did not locate either.
One suspect had a French-accent and is described as white, in his mid-20s, 6' tall and 175 pounds with short brown hair. He was wearing a blue coat, caramel-colored, Eskimo-style hat, brown track pants, a brown leather satchel, and was carrying a new silver iPhone.
The second suspect has as a New Jersey-style accent. He is described as white, in his mid-20s, 5'11" tall and 200 pounds, with black hair and a short beard. He was wearing black track pants, a black sweater, and white shoes.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the Niagara County Sheriff's Office at 716-438-3394.
The teenage captain and his vessel were escorted back to Queenston, Ontario.
No one was injured during the hijacking.
Authorities do not believe the men are a threat to local residents.
Border patrol officials said most people who enter the country illegally, try to get as far away from the border as soon as possible, with many already having made arrangements to meet up with others.
The Integrated Border Enforcement Team, which is comprised of law enforcement agencies from both sides of the border, is working to identify the suspects.
