Global Courant 2023-04-19 22:27:00
A second front of inquiry is developing into the drownings of six foreigners and two Canadian children in the St. Lawrence River.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a US federal agency that focuses on cross-border crime, has opened a “parallel investigation” into the wider network that may have facilitated the ill-fated cross-border human smuggling attempt.
HSI initiated the investigation at the request of the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service (AMPS), according to an AMPS statement emailed to CBC News.
AMPS disclosed the request to HSI as it expanded its own investigation into the suspected network that arranged the transportation of four Indian nationals and a Romanian couple with two Canadian children across the St. Lawrence River.
AMPS has used warrants to seize two vehicles from different parts of the territory and investigators have identified individuals of interest.
“A criminal investigation is being conducted by the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Department, which has identified individuals of interest who have yet to comply with requests from investigators to come forward of their own accord,” the statement said.
“This has not stopped the investigation as police continue to learn about the events leading up to the tragic drowning of the victims.”
LOOK | The search continues:
Search continues after tragedy on the St. Lawrence River
An intensive search continues in the First Nations community of Akwesasne after eight bodies were recovered from the St. Lawrence River. As the community braces for more information on the latest missing person, more details are emerging about the identities of the dead and what may have brought them to the water’s edge.
River was too rough: community members
It is believed that the eight individuals boarded a boat on the night of March 29 to cross the St. Lawrence River with the aim of entering the US
Some community members have told CBC News that the boat should not have left that night because the river was too rough due to the bad weather.
International networks are known to use the border areas between Ontario-Quebec and New York State to smuggle people into the US. target of human smuggling networks.
Akwesasne police say they have recorded 48 incidents since January involving about 80 people attempting to illegally cross the Canada-US border.
Casey Oakes, 30, remains missing after the discovery of eight bodies in the St. Lawerence River. (Akwesasne Mohawk Police)
The majority of those attempting to cross Akwesasne are of Indian or Romanian nationality, according to police.
Akwesanse once depended on fishing and agriculture, but the construction of the St. Lawerence Seaway and industrial development in the region destroyed an abundant fishery and poisoned the local environment.
AMPS said in the statement that the search for 30-year-old Akwesasne member Casey Oakes continues. Oakes is linked to the failed human smuggling attempt.
He was last seen aboard a light blue boat on the eastern part of Cornwall Island, which is part of Akwesasne, and is located in the St. Lawrence River opposite Cornwall, Ont. Community members have told CBC News that they do not believe Oakes owned his own boat.
AMPS said in a statement that water and land searches found only “footwear” belonging to Oakes.
“The search team has not found any other items associated with Casey Oakes,” the statement said.
