Akwesasne Mohawk Police Suspend Search for Man Linked to Eight Dead Migrants

Akwesasne Mohawk police has suspended the search operation for Casey Oakes, the owner of the boat that was found alongside the bodies of eight migrants. Police state that they have exhausted search efforts and that they will get back to normal operations till they receive “actionable intelligence.”

Akwesasne Mohawk police has been searching for 30-year-old Casey Oakes for about a week now, ever since the eight bodies were recovered from St Lawrence River. At the time, some Oakes’ belongings were found in the boat. He was last seen the night before the bodies were found working on the boat.

Now, the police has decided to suspect the search and get back to normal operation. They are set to resume normal patrol operations unless some “actionable intelligence” is received.

On March 30, Akwesasne Mohawk police and Canadian Coast Guard found six bodies in St Lawrence River, along with a boat in which they were reportedly traveling. The next day, two more bodies were found taking the death toll to eight. It was then revealed that it was two families – one Romanian and one Indian – trying to cross into the US illegally through the St Lawrence River which straddles Quebec, Ontario, and New York state.

Police has asked the public to be on the lookout for Oakes and inform them if they spot him. The Akwesasne Mohawk police will continue to make efforts to find Oakes during regular operations.

Vineet Washington