RCMP announce arrests in suspected human trafficking ring along St. Lawrence

RCMP have made four arrests and issued four additional arrest warrants in connection with a suspected people-smuggling ring that allegedly charged migrants thousands of dollars to sneak them across the border into the U.S. from Cornwall, Ont.

Police said the group carried out several smuggling operations involving more than 100 migrants. The migrants were transported by boat along the St. Lawrence or by land crossing into Dundee, Que., RCMP said.

The smuggled migrants came mainly from India, Romania and Sri Lanka and were charged US$5,000 to US$6,000 per person to cross the border.

The investigation was conducted by the Cornwall Regional Task Force, which was led by the RCMP and includes the Ontario Provincial Police, the Canada Border Services Agency and the Ontario Ministry of Finance. The task force identified and investigated the human trafficking ring in July 2022.

The RCMP charged eight people, including:

• A 51-year-old man from Montreal.
• A 38-year-old man from Montreal.
• A 47-year-old man from Kanesatake.
• A 43-year-old man from Akwesasne.
• A 21 year old from Akwesasne.
• A 48-year-old man from Akwesasne.
• A 51-year-old man from Akwesasne.
• A 47-year-old man from Cornwall, Ont.

The alleged offenses were committed between 14 July 2022 and 15 June 2023. The eight accused face a total of 85 charges under the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act relating to people smuggling, possession and laundering the proceeds of crime.

American authorities and the local police force in Akwesasne were also assisting in the investigation, RCMP said.

Police said the group is linked to the deaths of eight people – a family of four from Romania and another family of four from India – who tried to cross the St. Lawrence River into the US near Akwesasne. Their bodies were recovered in March 2023.

Insp. RCMP Etienne Thauvette said traffickers transported migrants across the river in all weathers without regard for the lives of those on board.

“This terrible tragedy is a stark reminder of the unacceptable risks that vulnerable and desperate people are forced to endure at the hands of smugglers,” he said.

While police linked the deaths of the eight migrants to the group Thursday, Thauvette said he could not elaborate on the connection because of a separate, ongoing investigation by the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service.

While four members of the alleged smuggling ring have been arrested, one is currently being held in the US on unrelated matters and three remain wanted.

The alleged ringleader was arrested in June 2023 for failing to comply with a bail condition stemming from an unrelated human-trafficking investigation, police said. Investigators found that approximately $1.4 million passed through that person’s bank accounts over a one-year period.

Thauvette added that while the arrests are significant, people smuggling remains a concern.

“I think ideologically it would be good to end all smuggling,” he said. “I think we can all agree that as long as there are borders, there will be smuggling.”