A human smuggling ring connected to the deaths of eight migrants who drowned in the St. Lawrence River while attempting to cross into the United States was recently dismantled by the RCMP. The individuals who died included members of two families, four of Indian descent and four of Romanian descent, who perished in March 2023 in Akwesasne, a First Nations territory spanning Quebec, Ontario, and New York state. On June 6, police announced the arrest of four individuals, including the alleged ringleader, and issued warrants for four others involved in the large-scale smuggling operation. Charges have been laid against all individuals connected to the ring, effectively putting an end to their operations.
The RCMP revealed that two of the accused individuals are linked to the transport of the Indian family that tragically perished in the crossing. The RCMP did not confirm whether the smuggling network was responsible for transporting the Romanian family, who were also on the boat that sank. The Indian family, identified as the Chaudhari family, consisted of 50-year-old Praveenbhai Chaudhari, his wife Dakshaben, son Meet, and daughter Vidhi, all from the state of Gujarat. The Romanian family included Florin Iordache, his wife Cristina, and their two children, who were Canadian citizens. The investigation also revealed that approximately $1.4 million transited through accounts linked to the alleged ringleader over a one-year period.
The RCMP laid the bulk of the charges against the alleged ringleader, 51-year-old Thesingarasan Rasiah of Montreal, who is facing a total of 36 counts. Another individual, 38-year-old Joel Portillo, was also arrested on 25 charges related to the smuggling operation. However, four individuals wanted for their involvement in the group remain at large. Arrest warrants have been issued for individuals such as Justin Rourke, who is currently in custody in the U.S. on unrelated charges, and Shawna Etienne, a suspected organizer. The smuggling ring primarily transported migrants from India, Romania, and Sri Lanka, charging them up to $6,000 US for border crossings and up to $35,000 US for international travel documents.
While the arrests are expected to act as a deterrent and prompt the public to report smuggling activities, the RCMP acknowledges that the crime is likely to persist. The law enforcement agency remains committed to investigating human smuggling activities to prevent further tragedies. The Canadian Border Services Agency declined to comment on the case, and authorities from the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment. The dismantling of this human smuggling ring serves as a reminder of the dangers and consequences associated with illegal border crossings and underscores the need for continued vigilance and enforcement efforts to combat such criminal activities.
