Grise Fiiord (Sep 25/06) - For a Romanian man trying to duck the Canada Border Services Agency, getting arrested by the Mounties was probably much better than the potential alternative.

A man, believed to be the 32-year-old Romanian who sailed from Greenland to Grise Fiord in a bid to enter Canada, stands on the bow of the fibreglass boat used in the journey. News/North could not confirm the authenticity of this photo, which has been circulating via email.

The 32-year-old man arrived in the high Arctic hamlet Sept. 18, marking the end of a week-long journey by boat from Greenland.

"He was down to his last five gallons of gas; he had no food with him; the boat had suffered damage from large waves coming across (the Davis Strait)," said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Randy Slawson. "He was wet and cold and very happy to be back on dry land."

The man made the arduous journey in an 18-foot, fibreglass boat, equipped with an 85-horsepower outboard motor. Asked if that was appropriate for crossing the iceberg-laden strait, Slawson said, "Not in my mind."

The RCMP met the man when he arrived in Grise Fiord to clear him through customs. In the process, they learned he was deported from Canada in 2000. Police say he was trying to get to Toronto and was travelling via Nunavut to avoid border guards.

The Mounties won't release the man's name, since he likely won't be charged.

Instead, Slawson said the man was scheduled to be sent to Resolute Bay Thursday, where customs officials would meet him. After that, Slawson said the man would likely be deported again.