Soon after the four bodies were discovered on the Canadian side of the border, RCMP Assistant Commissioner Jane McLachey called it “a complete and heartbreaking tragedy”.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said his government is working “very closely” with the US to stop human trafficking, a day later. Family of four Indians, including a child, died due to exposure to extreme cold On the Canadian side of the border with the US.
Describing the incident as a “mind-blowing” tragedy, Mr Trudeau said on January 21 that the Canadian government was doing everything possible to stop people smuggling across the US border.
“It was an absolutely mind-blowing story. It’s so sad to see a family die like this, victims of human traffickers… and people who took advantage of their desire to make a better life,” Mr. Trudeau said in a statement. Said in a press conference.
“That is why we are doing everything possible to discourage people from crossing the border irregularly or illegally. We know there are huge risks in doing so,” he said.
The prime minister said Canada is working closely with the United States to stop trafficking and help people “take unacceptable risks”.
According to Canadian officials, the incident was unusual as illegal migrants typically try to enter Canada from the US and not the other way around. There was an increase in pedestrian crossings in Canada in 2016 following the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States.
On January 20, the Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said that the bodies of four people – two adults, a juvenile and an infant – were found on the Canadian side of the US/Canada border near the Emerson area in south central Manitoba. on 19 January.
The family, believed to be Gujarati, died from exposure to extreme cold weather.
Confirming the nationality of the deceased, India’s High Commissioner to Canada Ajay Bisaria described the incident as a grave tragedy.
Bisaria tweeted, “This is a grave tragedy. An Indian consular team is traveling from @IndiainToronto to Manitoba today to coordinate and assist. We will work with Canadian authorities to investigate these disturbing incidents.” “
According to a criminal complaint filed in a court in the US state of Minnesota, all foreign nationals found on the US side, part of the larger group, spoke in Gujarati.
The Manitoba RCMP was notified by US Customs and Border Protection on the morning of January 19 that a group of people had entered the US near Emerson, and one of the adults was carrying goods intended for a child, but no infant. was not. Group.
An immediate search began on both sides of the border and by noon the bodies of an adult male, an adult female and an infant were found. The body of a boy believed to be in his teens was found shortly after.
The US Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota said in a press release that Steve Shand, 47, of Florida, has been arrested.
A criminal complaint has been filed in the US District Court for the District of Minnesota on January 20 against Mr. Shand on charges of human trafficking.
Mr. Shand, a “suspected smuggler of unspecified foreign nationals”, was arrested on January 19 for transporting two Indian nationals who were illegally in the US near the US/Canadian border. Two Indian nationals have been identified as ‘SP’. And ‘YP’ in the complaint.
The complaint states that “five Indian nationals who were illegally in the United States of America at the time of Shand’s arrest were also identified and arrested”.
Inside the vehicle, US officials found cases of plastic cups, bottled water, bottled juices and snacks in the van. As officers were taking the trio back to a Border Patrol station in North Dakota, they were followed by another group of five Indian nationals.
They said they had gone across the border and were expected to be picked up by someone. The group said they estimated they had been running for more than 11 hours.
One person in the group had a backpack he told officers he was carrying for a family of four, they were separated that contained baby items such as clothes, a diaper and a toy.
A release from the US Attorney’s Office said the bodies found on the Canadian side of the border have been identified as those of a family of four.
Soon after the four bodies were discovered on the Canadian side of the border, RCMP Assistant Commissioner Jane McLachey called it “a complete and heartbreaking tragedy”.
“At this early stage of the investigation, it appears that they all died from exposure to cold weather,” McLachey said, adding that the RCMP believes the four men belong to a group known as the United States. was caught by boundary.
He said the four were located within 9-12 meters of the border.
McClatchy said the group was “on their own in the middle of a blizzard” and “faced not only cold weather but endless fields, large snowdrifts and complete darkness”.
Canadian police said the four bodies were at their peak and the temperature was minus 35 degrees Celsius with gusts of wind.
MacLachey said work is underway to identify the victims, but at this stage, it appears they all died from exposure to the cold.
The RCMP said it is working with US Customs and Border Protection and the US Department of Homeland Security.
In a statement, the Canada Border Services Agency said it was working with law enforcement partners as well as their US counterparts on the investigation.
The Office of the Minister of Public Safety said in a statement: “We are shocked and saddened by the tragic death of four people attempting to cross the Canada-US border near Emerson, Manitoba. We extend our heartfelt condolences to their loved ones. And our condolences are with him in this difficult time.”
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