A search and rescue operation for a woman and her two young children near the Quebec-U.S. border has come to an end after nearly a full day of efforts. Quebec provincial police, who took over the search from the RCMP on Thursday, believe the trio may have left the area by car.

The search began around midnight on Thursday in the area surrounding Trout River, Quebec, located in the Montérégie region. The RCMP had initially launched the operation after two men and a woman were arrested on Wednesday night for illegally crossing into Canada. The arrested individuals provided information that led authorities to believe there might be additional people involved in the border crossing, which prompted the search for the missing woman and children.

Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the individuals involved but indicated that an ongoing investigation is taking place. While the search has concluded, Quebec provincial police are continuing to monitor the situation, and further inquiries are expected to shed light on the trio’s whereabouts.

The RCMP and Quebec provincial police have urged the public to report any sightings of the missing individuals, though their current whereabouts remain unclear. Authorities have emphasized that they are treating this case with urgency as they try to piece together what led to their disappearance and cross-border movement.