Three Afghan National Army officers who went missing while on a joint training program in Massachusetts were detained by Canadian border authorities on Monday after attempting to cross into Canada, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official said.

State authorities, who assisted search efforts since the three went missing, said they were notified on Monday that the men had been located and were detained at the border in Rainbow Bridge between Niagra Falls, New York and Ontario, said Massachusetts police spokesperson David Procopio.

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But U.S. border officials said they did not have custody of the three men yet.

The three men - Capt. Noorullah Aminyar, Capt. Mohammed Nasir Askarzada and Maj. Jan Mohammad Arash - were in the U.S. as part of an annual joint military exercise held at the Otis Air National Guard Base in Cape Cod.

The three were reported missing Saturday after a trip to a mall in Hyannis, CNN reported.

There are no indications that the three pose a danger to the public, said James Shahady of the state police.

The 15 Afghans - including Aminyar, Azkarzada and Arash - who took part in the Cape Cod exercises were all vetted, said Pentagon spokesperson Army Col. Steve Warren.

Earlier, Gov. Deval Patrick said he did not think the Afghan soldiers were dangerous but noted speculation that the three men may have been attempting to defect.

This marks the second time Afghan officers disappeared while on a joint training program in the U.S.

On Sept. 13, two Afghan officials who were participating in a five-week program conducted with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Quantico, Virginia were reported missing after failing to show at a scheduled boat excursion last week, according to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration spokesperson Rusty Payne.

Officials found the two on Sept. 18 in Buffalo, New York.

Authorities believe the two were attempting to reunite with relatives.

TagsAfghan National Army, joint military exercise, Customs and Border Protection, dea