CBSA executed over 2,600 seizures of suspected narcotics and precursors across the country

THE Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on Wednesday shared the results of Operation Blizzard, which was launched as part of Canada’s Border Plan. It was a month-long — February 12 to March 13 — cross-country surge operation to intercept fentanyl and other illegal drugs in postal, air cargo and marine containers.

During the operation, border services officers examined shipments, with a special focus on mail, air freight and sea containers going to the United States. They acted on increased referrals from CBSA’s National Targeting Centre based on risk assessments. In total, the CBSA executed over 2,600 seizures of suspected narcotics and precursors across the country: 67.5% of all seizures made were of illegal narcotics coming to Canada from the United States, while 17.5% were of narcotics going to the United States.

These included:

•  116 fentanyl seizures (1.73 kg), intercepted in British Columbia, Québec and Alberta. Of these seizures, 1.44 kg were on route to the United States and 0.26 kg were destined to other countries
• 17 meth seizures (5.38 kg and 89 pills)
• 24 cocaine seizures (13 kg)
• 26 heroin seizures (0.19 kg)
• 17 opium seizures (38.84 kg and 11 bottles)
• 48 MDMA seizures (2.32 kg and 82 pills)
• 249 cannabis and cannabis related product seizures

During this same period, the CBSA shared details about other notable seizures of illegal narcotics:

• 400 litres of 1,4-butanediol in Vancouver, more commonly known as “liquid ecstasy” or the “date rape drug”
• 148 kg of methamphetamine at Vancouver International Airport
• 142 kg of cocaine, (estimated value of $3.5M) from rail containers in Montreal
• 154 kg (estimated value of $4.6M) of ketamine at the Toronto Pearson International Airport
• 108 kg of cocaine at the Coutts port of entry
• 419 kg of suspected cocaine at the Blue Water Bridge port of entry
• 25 kg of codeine and the precursor chemical ephedrine (estimated value of $1.4 M)
• 8 kg of suspected Khat at the Ambassador Bridge
• 1.7 kg of suspected MDMA (ecstasy) (estimated value of $59,640) at the Peace Bridge
• 10 kg of ketamine (estimated value of $706K) at the Vancouver International Airport
• 2.7 kg of opium (estimated value of $160k) at the Vancouver International Airport
• Just under 25 kg of meth at the Vancouver International Mail Centre

Gary Anandasangaree, federal Minister of Public Safety, said: “I am committed to serving Canadians by keeping our communities safe, combatting hate, and strengthening our security agencies. Operation Blizzard exemplifies the tireless work of border services officers who defend our borders and our communities every day from dangerous drugs and organized crime groups.”

Kevin Brosseau, Fentanyl Czar, said: “Fentanyl and other illegal drugs pose a threat to our communities and to public safety. The Canada Border Services Agency, with initiatives like Operation Blizzard, is directly contributing to detect, disrupt, and dismantle the fentanyl trade.”

Erin O’Gorman, President, CBSA, said: “CBSA personnel work day in and day out to prevent criminal organizations from exploiting our borders. With Operation Blizzard, we stopped narcotics, synthetic opioids and fentanyl from reaching communities both at home and across the world. Our commitment to stopping the flow of illegal drugs is unwavering and our officers will continue to protect our communities from these dangerous substances.”

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