Ma
rch 31, 2023
www.akwesasne.ca
''The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service is continuing to seek the public’s assistance in locating a missing person from Akwesasne.
Casey Oakes, age 30, was reported missing on Thursday, March 30, 2023. He was last seen Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at approximately 9:30 p.m., boarding a small, light blue coloured vessel departing from the East end of Cornwall Island.
Wearing a black vest, snow pants, black face mask, and a black toque.
A search of the local waterways commenced on Thursday, March 30, 2023. Police located 6 bodies at approximately 5:00 p.m. in a marsh area in Tsi Snaihne (Snye) Akwesasne, Quebec.
A vessel matching the description as being operated by Casey Oakes was located near the location of the deceased persons. It was removed by police and placed in secure storage for further processing.
The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Marine Unit commenced the search of the area this morning with assistance from the Sûreté du Quebec and the Hogansburg Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department. Divers will also be in the area. We request the public and the media to please stay away from the search area.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Casey Oakes or sees a person matching this description is asked to contact the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service at (613) 575-2000. ''
The bodies from two families were found in a marsh near the borders of Quebec, Ontario and New York. One man is still missing.
thestarphoenix.com
“It was a very small vessel, nothing fancy,” O’Brien said.
Police say they have intercepted 80 people trying to cross illegally into Canada or into the United States through the Mohawk territory since January.''
O’Brien, however, said it was too soon to know whether the deaths can be linked to a smuggling network operating in the area.
She also stressed there is no reason to believe the deaths are a result of the recent closing of the Roxham Rd. irregular crossing.
“This has nothing to do with that closure,” O’Brien said. “That closure was people seeking refuge leaving the U.S. for Canada, these people were believed to be gaining entry into the U.S.”
“It’s been happening forever,” she said. Last year, photos shared in the community showed five people in a sinking boat. The people made it to shore, Lazore said, but probably only because the water was shallow.
“It needs to stop, or calm down or something,” Lazore said. “It’s pretty upsetting to know a baby passed, and a little child.”
In February, the Akwesasne police had issued a warning about a recent increase in “illegal entries through our lands and waterways.”
In a statement at the time, the police force reminded the community smuggling is a crime and spoke of migrants recently needing to be transported to hospital.''
