The 34 -year -old man appeared at the courthouse on August 9 to respond to the same accusations as the three alleged smugglers accused in this case: either that of having encouraged, helped or encouraged or tried to encourage, help or encourage a person to commit an offense under article 131 of the Immigration and protection of refugee law (LIPR) and that of having helped people to enter Canada elsewhere than a customs office designated according to article 11 of the Customs law. Other accusations could be filed. Meanwhile, he remains detained while waiting for the continuation of the procedures.
Recall that at the beginning of August, the RCMP and the SQ intercepted a cube truck on the Haskell path near Stanstead. After opening the doors, the agents discovered 44 migrants, including children, who were piled up in the truck without ventilation. Several of them were dehydrated.
“They lacked air, no one had water, and with the children and the restricted space, they could not sit on the ground, they had to stand,” said the spokesperson for the RCMP, Charles Poirier. “They were left in just horrible conditions, really.”
The three alleged smugglers of Turkish origin – Ogulcan Mersin 25 years old, Dogan Alakus 31 years old, and Firat Yuksek 31 years old – had been formally accused and remain detained at least until August 28.
Other current surveys
The GRC and the ASFC are currently investigating other individuals suspected of being linked to many other illegal passages in Quebec in LIPR, it was said by press release.
On August 10, the RCMP arrested two other people in the Valleyfield region, while they were trying to illegally pass 11 foreign nationals. Can Volkan, 25, and Kurey Recep, 27, appeared by videoconferencing at the Valleyfield courthouse to meet accusations related to the LIPR and the Customs law.
Checks are underway to establish their links with other recent events of illegal crossings, the RCMP said by press release.
If you have information on the illicit activities of individuals or groups of individuals, you can contact the RCMP at 514 939-8300/1 800 771-5401, the ASFC at 1-888-502-9060, or with your local police service.
