A Fort Erie man with a prior conviction for possessing child pornography has pleaded guilty to smuggling methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States. Eric Hagen, 57, now faces up to 20 years in a U.S. federal prison and a US$1-million fine, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office of Western New York.
Details of the smuggling attempt
Prosecutors reported that on August 1, 2025, Hagen was stopped at the Peace Bridge connecting Fort Erie to Buffalo by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. Suspicious behavior led to a secondary inspection, during which officers discovered multiple electronic devices, including cellular phones, hard drives, a laptop, and a baby monitor. Additionally, they found two plastic containers containing methamphetamine and fentanyl. Officials have not disclosed the quantity or value of the drugs. A sentencing date has yet to be set.
Previous criminal history
Hagen is no stranger to law enforcement. In June 2024, he was convicted in St. Catharines of possessing child pornography. That case began in March 2024 when the Niagara Regional Police's Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit and Technological Crimes Unit charged Hagen after raiding a Fort Erie residence and seizing electronic devices. Hagen was not present during the raid and was added to Niagara's Most Wanted List two months later, facing charges of two counts of possession of child pornography and accessing child pornography. A tipster led officers to his location, and he was arrested, also facing a charge of resisting arrest. A second man believed to have aided Hagen while he was a fugitive was charged with accessory after the fact for an indictable offence.
Earlier encounters with the courts include a spring 2019 arrest for breaking into a cargo trailer in Fort Erie, where personal items valued at about $500 were stolen. CCTV evidence led to charges of break and enter and theft. In 2017, Hagen was charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and failing to comply with a recognizance related to the theft of a Sea-Doo watercraft.
