After nearly four years of not knowing where her children were, Emily Cablek finally was reunited with them on the weekend following an extensive police investigation to find her young son and daughter.

 

Winnipeg police and child-protection officials held a press conference Monday to discuss the recovery of Dominic and Abby Maryk.

 

A statement from Cablek was also read out on Monday.

 

"I'm the happiest mommy in the world right now,'" she said in the statement.

 

Her two children are now age nine and 11.

 

"They absolutely, 100 per cent recognize their mother. They have many memories. Dominic is looking forward to a Slurpee," said Christy Dzikowicz from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection

 

Cablek's statement thanked police for their lengthy investigation and the Canadian Centre for Child Protection for its support.

 

The children were located in Guadalajara, Mexico on May 25, following a public tip from someone who saw a CrimeStoppers video from Winnipeg police that had been translated into Spanish and aired on a Mexican television station.

 

Interpol raided the home where the children were found in Guadalajara on Friday. 

 

Officials believe the children had been kept inside it for most of their days and not permitted to attend school, with the area surrounded by guard dogs.

 

"The kids were not allowed out of the home – particularly in the light of day. They were confined – had each other, thankfully, but little else," said Dzikowicz.

 

Officers said the children's father moved the kids at least five times over the past few years and officers came close to locating them a number of times.

 

"When you're thousands of kilometres away, these are difficult things to coordinate and Mexico is a big country with a lot of people and a lot of places to hide," said Insp. Gord Perrier from criminal investigations with Winnipeg police.

 

Dzikowicz described Cablek as a "remarkable woman" who continued fighting to get her children back over the years.

 

"She wanted to give her children a happy childhood and a great life. She now has that chance," said Dzikowicz.

 

Police said extradition proceedings are underway to bring their father Kevin Maryk back to Canada to face charges for abduction in contravention of a court order and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

 

A second man, Robert Groen, is also in custody and will be extradited to face a charge of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence - child abduction.

 

Both men have ties to organized crime. Investigators are also looking into a number of other allegations.

The men are expected to be back on Canadian soil to face charges by August. 

 

A Canada-wide warrant remains in effect for a third man, Cody McKay, who is Kevin Maryk's nephew. 

 

Officials said Abby and Dominic will now need time to heal while they are reunited with their family in Manitoba.

 

 

 

- with a report from CTV's Stacey Ashley

 

Statement from Emily Cablek, mom of Dominic and Abby:

 

"I cannot put into words how grateful I am for all the wonderful support I received from the community over the past 3 years. I want to thank the Winnipeg police missing persons unit for their amazing persistence and to the Canadian Centre for Child Protection for standing by me and guiding me through the worst 45 months of my life. You all helped me stay strong for the most important moment of my life, for that you will always be in my heart and a part of my family. I am the happiest mommy in the world right now, and am asking PLEASE give my family some privacy so that we can begin to heal. We still have a long road ahead and I want my children to feel completely safe through it all... they deserve nothing less."