They are thought to be “victims” of human smuggling.
Canadian authorities have discovered the bodies of four people, including a baby, close to the US border on a route used by migrants.
It is understood that they froze to death, officials have said.
The temperature on Wednesday, when the bodies were found, was minus 35 degrees celsius.
“At this very early stage of the investigation, it appears that they all died due to exposure to the cold weather,” Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement.
The bodies of two adults, a baby, and a teenage boy were found just 12 metres from the US border about 10km outside of the town of Emerson, Manitoba.
Earlier that day, authorities had detained a group of travellers, one of which was carrying a backpack full of baby items including clothes toys and nappies. He said he had been travelling with others but got separated during the night.
This prompted police, along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to conduct a search on both sides of the border.
"It is an absolute and heartbreaking tragedy." Manitoba RCMP say four people, one an infant, were found dead Wednesday at the Canada-U.S. border #cbcmb
More here: https://t.co/oUOzSE2qsx pic.twitter.com/osTUws8E3A— CBC Manitoba (@CBCManitoba) January 20, 2022
The four bodies were found after four hours of searching.
A man from Flordia, US, was found driving a van nearby, one mile from the south of the border, with two undocumented Indian nationals inside. He was later arrested and charged with human smuggling.
It is believed the people’s crossing may have been facilitated in some way by the US native.
Speaking at a press conference, Manitoba Assistant Commissioner Jane MacLatchy she viewed these people as “victims.”
“We’re very concerned that this attempted crossing may have been facilitated in some way and that these individuals including an infant were left on their own in the middle of a blizzard when the weather had hovered around minus 35 degrees Celsius, factoring the wind,” she said.
“These victims face not only the cold weather, but also endless fields, large snowdrifts, and complete darkness.”
