MONTREAL, Jan 1: Canadian police have arrested an alien smuggler who may have helped five Middle Eastern suspects sought by US authorities cross into the United States, a television network said on Wednesday.

After his recent arrest, the alleged smuggler told police here that his organization was paid handsomely to help 19 people cross illegally into the United States from Pakistan via Britain and Canada, CTV said, quoting Canadian police and counterespionage sources.

The 19 illegal immigrants included the five suspects sought by the FBI and identified as Abid Noraiz Ali, Iftikhar Khozmai Ali, Mustafa Khan Owasi, Adil Pervez and Akbar Jamal. They are believed to have entered the US on the Christmas eve.—AFP