Akwesasne smuggling bust results in 12 arrests
Dec 11, 2006, 17:16
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The RCMP said Monday it has arrested the alleged kingpins of a cigarette and marijuana smuggling operation in nearby Akwesasne. Twelve people are accused of 115 offences, including drug trafficking and cigarette smuggling as a result of the "Project Crawler" investigation on the reserve that straddles the Ontario, Quebec and U.S. borders. Police accuse William Hank Cook, 31, of Cornwall, and Patrick Johnson, 36, of the U.S. portion of Akwesasne, of owning an underground cigarette manufacturing plant, which police dismantled. The plant, MHP Manufacturing, was allegedly operating in the U.S. portion of Akwesasne. Cook faces 29 charges, which include drug possession and conspiracy to traffic in drugs and cigarette smuggling. Johnson is facing 21 indictments, including possession and sale of unstamped manufactured tobacco and conspiracy to smuggle cigarettes. "We believe Hank Cook was making between $200,000 and $300,000 each week for his role," RCMP Insp. Tim Mackin told a news conference. The two-year long joint investigation included 30 officers from Cornwall Community Police Service, Akwesasne Mohawk Police, Ontario Provincial Police and Canada Border Services. Cigarettes produced at MHP were smuggled across the border and then delivered to various clients in Ottawa, Montreal and New Brunswick, Mackin said. Cook and Johnson have both been indicted in the U.S. in a separate investigation which saw cash, weapons, vehicles and marijuana seized, Mackin said. Akwesasne Mohawk Police Chief Louis Mitchell explained the Akwesasne community is "often exploited by organized criminals" and that the unique jurisdiction is taken advantage of for its prime locale. "This is taking our kids away from us," Mitchell said. "We have a hard time competing with organized crime. Our youth see that gold and glitter and we want them to know they don't get to keep this, that they need to focus on the right path." Ten arrest warrants were issued and eight men appeared in Cornwall court on Monday. Also facing a variety of smuggling and drug charges are Michael Clayton Cook, 28, of Cornwall Island; Tyler Bertrand, 24, of Cornwall; Francis Gauthier, 32, of Chateauguay, Que.; Jeremiah Ingram, 47, of Long Sault; Jonathan Poitras, 29, of Saint-Zotique, Que.; Jonathan Thompson, 27, of Akwesasne, Que.; Lawrence Christian Francis, 22, of Cornwall Island; Kristopher Johnson, 23, of Akwesasne; Waylon White, 29, of Cornwall Island; and Louie Cook, 27, of Cornwall Island.
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