THE Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on Thursday announced the seizure of 64 bricks of suspected cocaine in the Pacific Highway District. The bricks had a combined weight of 71.5 kilograms (nearly 160 pounds) with an estimated value of over $3.5 million.
On March 18, a commercial driver entered Canada in a tractor-trailer carrying personal care products. During the secondary examination, border services officers used a wide range of detection tools and technology to inspect the goods, and noticed anomalies.
The officers unloaded the trailer, found a total of 64 individually wrapped brick-shaped object, and tested the contents, which returned positive for suspected cocaine.
The CBSA Pacific Region Intelligence Section was engaged and worked with the RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime (FSOC) unit on this cross-border smuggling attempt investigation. The RCMP FSOC unit took custody of the driver and the drugs.
Yvette Lebrun, Director, Pacific Highway District, CBSA, said: “The discovery of 64 bricks of suspected cocaine is the direct result of diligent work by our border services officers. They kept Canadians safe by preventing these drugs from entering our communities.”
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Quick Facts
- The CBSA Pacific Highway District includes five ports of entry: Boundary Bay, Douglas, Pacific Highway, Aldergrove and Abbotsford-Huntingdon.
- Border services officers are highly trained in examination techniques to analyze risk and intercept prohibited goods from entering Canada. Officers look for indicators of deception and use intelligence, as well as a risk management approach, for determining which goods may warrant a closer look.
- Anyone with information about suspicious cross-border activity is encouraged to call the CBSA Border Watch Toll-free Line at 1-888-502-9060.
