ON August 10, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada approved charges against Surrey resident Steven Andrew Golding, 64, for importation of Methamphetamine and possession of Methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking.

Both offences are liable to a life sentence in prison. These charges were approved following an RCMP investigation by a Federal Serious and Organized Crime team (FSOC).

On December 1, 2018, Golding and a passenger were crossing from the United States into Canada at the Pacific Highway Border crossing in a commercial tractor trailer, towing a legitimate load of commercial goods. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers conducted a secondary examination of their vehicle and located various bags full of what was later confirmed as methamphetamine.

FSOC investigators were called to assist and took conduct of this investigation. In total, 89.805 kilograms of methamphetamines were seized, all from within the interior of a Volvo tractor. The passenger was not charged.

On August 17, 2020, Golding was arrested and issued release conditions including a promise to appear on September 14 at the Surrey Provincial Court for his first appearance.

“At our borders, the Canada Border Services Agency is Canada’s first line of defence. Our border services officers are highly trained in examination and investigative techniques to keep prohibited goods, such as narcotics, from entering Canada. By collaborating and sharing information with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, it ensures that cases like this are pursued for criminal prosecution,” said Daniela Evans, Director, Pacific Highway District, CBSA.

“We commend our partners at Canada Border Services Agency for their sharpness in detecting and locating these dangerous narcotics. Our FSOC investigators rose to the challenge to gather solid evidence for charges to be laid. Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug typically sold by the “point”, or 0.1 gram, at the street level in British Columbia. The amount of methamphetamine seized in this investigation equates to almost 900,000 “points” of Methamphetamine. Methamphetamine not only has long lasting negative health effects on the individual user, it also has a serious impact on public safety, contributing to increased acts of violence and property crimes in communities across Canada,” said Inspector Stephen Lee, RCMP Federal Serious Organized Crime.