Four residents of the Akwesasne Mohawk territory have admitted to participating in an international scheme to smuggle firearms, narcotics, and people across the U.S.-Canada border. The group utilized sophisticated methods, including jet skis, to move weapons from New Hampshire through New York into Canada.
From a Montreal kidnapping to a 51-gun conspiracy
The investigation into this international smuggling ring began unexpectedly when Montreal police (SPVM) recovered a weapon during a kidnapping probe. This specific firearm, which had an obliterated serial number that investigators eventually restored, was linked to co-conspirator Dustin Tuttle. As the report indicates, this single discovery unraveled a much larger web stretching from New Hampshire to Vermont and New York.
The discovery of the weapon in Canada provided a crucial link between local violent crime and American firearms markets. According to the District of New Hampshire U.S.. Attorney's Office, the investigation revealed that the defendants exploited New Hampshire gun dealers and straw purchasers to fuel this cross-border pipeline.
Jet skis and the Cornwall Island smuggling route
Smugglers utilized the unique geography of the Akwesasne Mohawk territory to bypass traditional border security. One defendant used jet skis to transport contraband, including straw-purchased firearms, from the New York side of the territory to Cornwall Island. Once at the island, the goods were handed off to individuals tasked with ferrying them through checkpoints into Canada.
This multi-commodity pipeline did not stop at firearms. The investigation revealed that the same routes used for weapons were also employed to traffic narcotics and humans between the United States and Canada. This suggests a highly organized operation that viewed the Akwesasne territory as a primary transit hub for various forms of illicit trade.
Ten firearms linked to violent crime in Montreal
At least 51 firearms were identified as part of this trafficking network moving from New Hampshire into Canada. The real-world consequences of this flow were evidenced when ten of these weapons were recovered at various Canadian crime scenes. One notable instance involved a firearm used during an attempted shooting in a Montreal parking lot.
The connection between American gun sales and Canadian street violence is a central theme of this prosecution. By utilizing straw purchasers to acquire weapons legally in the U.S., the conspiracy was able to move large quantities of obscured firearms into Canadian communities, directly contributing to the volatility of local crime scenes.
The February 2027 sentencing for Oakes,Terrance, Gibson, and Cook
Four specific Akwesasne residents—Conrad Oakes, Tayson Terrance, Ranonkwatseronhawi Gibson, and Montana Cook—now face significant prison time. These men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit straw purchasing and conspiracy to traffic firearms between September and October. As the U.S. Department of Justice noted, the straw purchasing charge alone carries a maximum sentence of 25 years.
The legal fallout extends to several other individuals who have already entered guilty pleas. These co-conspirators include Justin Jackson, Melissa Longe, Dustin Tuttle, Caleb Wilcott,and Doug Mulligan. All defendants are currently awaiting their final sentencing , which is scheduled to take place in February 2027.
The missing names in the 13-person trafficking charge
While nine co-conspirators have been identified, the full scope of the 13-person trafficking charge remains partially obscured. The source mentions that U.S. authorities charged 13 people in total, yet only nine names—including the four recent defendants and five previous co-conspirators—have been made public. It remains unclear if the remaining four individuals are currently facing similar charges or if their involvement has yet to be formally detailed in court filings. Furthermore, the report does not specify if the investigation into the human and drug trafficking components of the conspiracy is still active or if those leads have been exhausted.
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