Congratulations to Cornwall Police Service for their part in shutting down a sophisticated smuggling operation that used Akwesasne territory on Cornwall Island to smuggle drugs south and illegal guns north.

On Jan. 28, three locations in Cornwall, Cornwall Island, and Hogansburg, N.Y. were simultaneously searched under warrant. Officers seized a total of 555 kilograms of marijuana, $467,480 in Canadian funds, $3,000 in U.S. currency, three loaded handguns and their magazines, and five vehicles. Two Cornwall residents, one from Cornwall Island, one from St. Regis, Que., and three from Hogansburg were taken into custody.

The other six people taken into custody on Jan. 28, whose identities were not released, were arrested by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Thanks to Cornwall Police Services’ excellent work, 35-year-old Mark Rudolph of Cornwall, ON, now faces charges for

• Importing and exporting cannabis
• Possession of a firearm contrary to prohibition order x 3
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000
• Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
• Careless storage of a firearm or ammunition x 4
• Knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm x 3
• Possession of prohibited or restricted firearm x 3

“This investigation demonstrates the continued efforts of our law enforcement partners in targeting organized crime. The Cornwall Police Service is proud to have supported this high-level operation and will continue to work diligently to dismantle criminal enterprises and create a safer community,” said CPS Deputy Chief Shawna Spowart.

Agents from five Canadian agencies and the US Department of Homeland Security seized 1,225 pounds of marijuana, $467,480 CAD, $3,000 USD, three loaded handguns and five vehicles to shut down the smugglers.

Those agencies are:

• Cornwall Police Service
• Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service (AMPS)
• Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police
• Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA)
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)