On Saturday night, August 3, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) discovered 44 migrants, mainly from Haiti, piled in a U-Haul truck without ventilation near Stanstead. Three smugglers were arrested. All migrants expressed their willingness to apply for asylum, stressing the danger of these illegal immigration attempts.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:20 a.m., when RCMP officers patrolled the Stanstead area. They stopped a suspicious truck, in which they found 44 migrants, mostly Haitian, tightened in a space without ventilation, in a state of dehydration. Among them were a pregnant woman and a child about 4 years old. The migrants explained that they walked about two hours through the forest to reach the smugglers before getting into the vehicle.
The three alleged smugglers, Ogulcan Mersin (25), Dogan Alakus (31) and Firat Yuksek (30), were arrested and are currently appearing. They are charged with inciting or assisting illegal entry under the Immigration Act, as well as for facilitating entry outside official points. The continuation of the CBSA's investigation could lead to further charges.
Migrants, all supported by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), have indicated their intention to seek asylum. The proximity of interception has prevented long-distance transport, thus avoiding an increased risk for these people.
W.A.
