Five people have been arrested following a seven-month investigation by U.S., Canadian and Akwesasne authorities into a human smuggling operation in the Massena-Cornwall area.

The joint investigation, Operation Project Oinertia, involving the Massena Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST), Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service (AMPS), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP focused on north and southbound human smuggling of foreign nationals in Massena, New York, Cornwall, Ontario, and St. Regis, Quebec.

On Oct. 20, search warrants were executed by the CBSA, RCMP and AMPS at residences in Quebec and Ontario, according to a press release from the Canada Border Services Agency.

As a result, five people have been arrested and four people have been charged.

Huai Guo Li, 59, of Carignan, Que., is charged with three counts of conspiracy under paragraph 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada and one count of aiding or abetting the illegal entry to Canada of one or more persons under section 18(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

Donald Benedict, 44, of Cornwall, Ont., is charged with two counts of conspiracy under paragraph 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada and one count of aiding or abetting the illegal entry to Canada of one or more persons under Section 18(1) of the IRPA.

Edwin Benedict, 48, of Cornwall Island, Ont., is charged with two counts of conspiracy under paragraph 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada.

Jessica Martin-Conners, 43, of Cornwall Island, Ont., is charged with one count of conspiracy under paragraph 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada.

“The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service has long-standing investigative partnership with all area law enforcement agencies,” said Akwesasne Mohawk Police Chief Jerry Swamp. “And in this case, it has yielded the desired effects.”

The investigation is ongoing and more charges may follow, the press release says.