Local firemen search the marshland for bodies in Akwesasne on March 31.CHRISTINNE MUSCHI/Reuters
Akwesasne Mohawk Police have identified two of the eight migrants found dead in the St. Lawrence River after a boat carrying them from Canada into the United States capsized earlier this week.
They are a 28-year-old man named Florin Iordache and a 28-year-old woman named Cristina (Monalisa) Zenaida Iordache. Police said Mr. Iordache was carrying two Canadian passports, one for a two-year-old child and another for a one-year-old child who were also found dead.
The four have been identified as being of Romanian descent. The identities of the other four victims, who were Indian nationals, have not yet been confirmed and their next of kin have not been notified, police said in a statement.
Meanwhile, police said they are continuing their search for Casey Oakes, a missing 30-year-old local man who was last seen Wednesday night. They said a vessel matching the description of the boat operated by Mr. Oakes was located near the migrants’ bodies the following day. “Clothing articles have also been located that have been identified as belonging to Casey Oakes,” police said in a statement Saturday.
They are asking anyone who knows the whereabouts of Mr. Oakes or who has seen a person matching his description to contact them at 613-575-2000. Mr. Oakes was last seen wearing a black vest, snow pants, black face mask and a black toque, the police service said.
Police also said that during the search, they located a local male inside a cabin on St. Regis Island, but added that at this time, they “cannot connect the male to be related to our investigation.”
Casey Oakes is considered a person of interest in the investigation into the eight migrants whose bodies were recovered from the St. Lawrence River, police say.Supplied
Joe Oakes, the man’s great-uncle, said his nephew was “probably bringing those guys across,” referring to the people whose bodies were found. Mr. Oakes said his nephew made this kind of trip every week, or every other week, carrying migrants from Canada to the U.S. for money. He said there was bad weather on Wednesday night. “They know the river, but he probably just couldn’t handle it that night,” he said.
Mr. Oakes is considered a person of interest in the investigation into the eight who died, although it remains unclear if he is connected to the boat’s capsizing, Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service Chief Shawn Dulude said Friday.
Akwesasne straddles the Canada-U.S. border, and has territory in Quebec, Ontario and New York State, and is known for being a transit point for human and contraband smuggling because of its location.
Police said there are approximately 40 first responders involved in the search, with members from Akwesasne Mohawk Police marine unit, Royal Canadian Mounted Police marine unit, Ontario Provincial Police air support, divers from the Sûreté du Québec and the Hogansburg Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department combing through eight kilometres of waterway.
The tragedy comes at a time of heightened attention to irregular border crossings between Canada and the U.S., after the countries renegotiated the Safe Third Country Agreement. The changes, which went into effect late last week, have closed unofficial ports of entry to would-be refugees seeking asylum.
Authorities in Akwesasne have seen a heavy flow of irregular migration from Canada to the U.S. in recent months. Local police have intercepted 80 people in 48 separate incidents since January.
In February, the police force issued a news release warning that human smuggling was putting first responders in danger by involving them in more rescues. In April, 2022, six Indian nationals were saved from a sinking boat in the St. Regis River, which runs through Akwesasne Mohawk territory.
With a report from Eric Andrew-Gee.