The interim police chief of Akwesasne, Ranatiiostha Swamp, has the impression that the Mohawk community has been forgotten in the federal plan to secure the Canadian-American border, announced last Tuesday, while the territory for which he is responsible is one of the most used by criminals to make illegal crossings to the United States.
A text from Pascal Robidas
The Trudeau government is engaged in a race against time to escape the 25% customs tariffs on Canadian products that American President-elect Donald Trump plans to impose if, according to his reading of the situation, Canada does not put an end to drug trafficking. fentanyl and the entry of illegal migrants into the United States.
Ottawa therefore announced with great fanfare on Tuesday an envelope of 1.3 billion dollars over six years to further secure the Canadian border with the United States, but Mr. Swamp deplores having received neither call nor email from the Trudeau government to inquire about their needs.
The situation of illegal crossings for trafficking is getting worse. We notice that more and more criminal organizations from Greater Toronto and Greater Montreal are passing through us to go illegally to the United States.
says the police chief.
With our limited manpower and territory size, we realize that we are only able to intercept a small percentage of illegal traffic into the United States.
Ranatiiostha Swamp says it needs more resources and technology, such as surveillance cameras, on its territory. Photo: -/Benoit Gagnon
With a slim annual budget of $5 million, the Akwesasne police force's primary mandate is to ensure security in a community of approximately 6,500 residents. However, the geographical location of this Mohawk territory poses unique problems in North America.
Akwesasne Police Annual Funding Breakdown
Federal: $2.6 million
Quebec: $1.2 million
Ontario : 1,2 million $
Source : Federal Ministry of Public Security
Akwesasne territory runs along a narrow part of the St. Lawrence River that allows criminal groups to cross the border illegally, in less than a few minutes, to reach the United States. Photo: -/-
The Akwesasne territory runs along the St. Lawrence River and straddles Ontario, Quebec and New York State over a distance of 37 kilometers of banks. Mohawks who reside there can go to Canada and the United States without going through a border crossing.
It is not in our mandate, initially, to combat the criminal activities of trafficking groups. We are just a small municipal police force. However, the situation requires us to have the same responsibilities as large police organizations like the GRCthe SQ and the PPO
explains the Mohawk police chief.
Akwesasne is in a unique situation in North America. In fact, the Mohawks who live there can go to Canada and the United States without going through a border crossing. Photo: -/-
It has been widely documented in the past that the geographical location of Akwesasne makes it one of the most used crossing points by criminal groups.
The Mohawk police are therefore demanding that part of the federal envelope of $1.3 billion over six years be used for five main objectives:
- add around ten police officers to the current workforce of 43 officers;
- add a third boat to patrol the St. Lawrence River;
- create a dog squad to search boats and vehicles;
- create an investigation service to analyze smart devices that are seized;
- add cameras and drones along the border.
Prime Minister François Legault recalled Wednesday, on the X network, that 80% of arrests linked to illegal crossings occurred in the sectors of Akwesasne and Swanton, in Vermont, along the Quebec border.
The government is demanding details of the Trudeau government's deployment plan, particularly regarding Akwesasne. We will review specific requests once they are sent to us. However, we have been asking for several weeks that the federal plan for border security contain specific measures for Akwesasne. We are still waiting for details of this plan
declared the office of the Minister of Public Security, François Bonnardel.
Six Indian nationals attempted to enter the United States through Akwesasne on April 28, 2022. However, their boat capsized. Their smuggler, Brian Lazore, was sentenced to five years in prison. Photo: Facebook/Facebook / US CBP
Ranatiiostha Swamp is not only the police chief of Akwesasne but also the so-called a local guy
. He was born and spent his childhood on his ancestral land.
As head of the police department, he asks for nothing less than to contribute to the effort of police services across the country to close the border to criminal groups.
The trafficking of drugs, weapons and migrants has no collective benefit for my community [personne ne s’enrichit avec ces activités illégales]. It's just a handful of individuals who profit from it to the detriment of everyone else. I find it disgusting to see criminal groups in large urban centers taking advantage of our land to enrich themselves on our backs
he insists.
The office of the federal Ministry of Public Safety refused to comment on the claims of the Akwesasne Mohawk Police despite our repeated requests.
