Cross border smuggling operation near Akwesasne

A human-trafficking attempt by a Montreal woman named "Chama" ended in a high-speed chase in New York, with multiple casualties in late March. The case from late October offers a look at the inner workings of human trafficking operations in Akosasene, a Hudnoshoni community on the Canada-US border.

A family of four from India and a family of four from Romania died in the Lawrence River after their boat capsized in stormy waters during an overnight crossing. The boat's driver, Akosasene resident Casey Oakes, was found downstream in July.

Police say they have busted dozens of human trafficking attempts since then. International criminal networks continue to cross Akosasene lands with the help of some boatmen and local residents.

With a population of about 27,000 people, Akusasene is divided by the Ontario-Quebec border and the international border with New York state. Non-Natives have taken advantage of the governance arrangements within Mohawk territory to move illegal products and people across the border.

Luis Esteban Zamora-Candia of Chile, Javier Estrella-Chel of Mexico and Sandra Milena Agudelo-Martinez of Colombia were also detained for illegally crossing from Canada to the United States.

Both Zamora-Candia and Estrella-Chel remain in custody and are said to be special witnesses for the trial.

Details revealed in court records show that the person setting up a human trafficking operation may not know all the actors ultimately involved in the operation, who are usually hired as contractors to do the work. The Ontario man smuggled people from India to the United States, via Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.

Tracing the history of smuggling along the Lawrence River

According to US court records, Zamora-Candia and Estrella-Chell had recently flown to Canada before attempting to cross the border, making arrangements through a woman named Chama in Montreal. At least one of the three, Estrella-Chel, had been staying with Chama before Francis took her away, according to court records in Montreal.

Zamora-Candia is said to have paid US$3,000 and Estrella-Chell US$5,000 for the trip across the border, but court records do not show how much Agudelo-Martinez paid.

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