Authorities in New York state are seeking the extradition of a Colombian man living in Quebec in connection with the death of a pregnant Mexican migrant woman who was found in a river after she attempted to walk across the Canada-U.S. border illegally in December. The RCMP logo is seen outside the force's 'E' division headquarters in Surrey, B.C., Thursday, March 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
MONTREAL – New York authorities are seeking the extradition of a Colombian man living in Quebec in connection with the death of a migrant woman who was trying to cross into the United States from Canada in December.
The attorney’s office for the Northern District of New York has charged Jhader Aguusto Uribe-Tobar, 35, with conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and alien smuggling for financial gain, both resulting in death, relating to the death of Ana Karen Vasquez-Flores.
The 33-year-old Vasquez-Flores, who was pregnant, was found in the Chazy River near Champlain, N.Y., on Dec. 14, two days after her husband alerted a border patrol agent that she had not emerged from the woods.
U.S. authorities allege that Uribe-Tobar advertised his services on TikTok under a pseudonym and charged the woman and her husband US$2,500 to guide her by text message as she walked alone across the border.
In response to the extradition request, the RCMP arrested Uribe-Tobar at his home in St-Hyacinthe, Que., late last month.
He appeared at the Montreal courthouse on Dec. 28, and he is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 12.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2024.
