CBSA seizes over 136 kilograms of suspected cocaine at border crossings in Southern Ontario

News release

September 10, 2020 Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario Canada Border Services Agency / Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Despite the pressures of the Covid19 pandemic, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are committed to the safeguarding of our country and keeping contraband goods, such as narcotics, from reaching our communities. The CBSA and the RCMP announced today the seizure of approximately 136 kilograms of suspected cocaine in two recent incidents at land border crossings in southern Ontario. The CBSA estimates the total value of the suspected cocaine at approximately $17 million dollars.

On August 18, 2020, a lone male hauling a tractor trailer arrived at the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge and was referred for a secondary examination. During the examination, CBSA officers observed some anomalies in the packaging of the shipment. Further examination led to the discovery of 104 packages of suspected cocaine concealed within the commercial load. The CBSA seized approximately 117 kilograms of the suspected narcotics and arrested the driver. The value of the goods is estimated at $14 million. The driver and the evidence were turned over to the RCMP, Hamilton Niagara Detachment. The investigation is ongoing.

On April 15, 2020, a male truck driver arrived at the Blue Water Bridge, and was referred for a secondary examination. Officers conducted a thorough search and discovered suspected cocaine weighing approximately 19 kilograms and valued at approximated $3 million. The driver was arrested and both he and the evidence were turned over to the RCMP, London Detachment. That investigation is also ongoing.

Additional multimedia

Suspected cocaine seized by the CBSA at the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge on August 18, 2020.

Suspected cocaine seized by the CBSA at the Blue Water Bridge port of entry in Point Edward, Ontario, on April 15, 2020.

Quotes

“These cocaine seizures demonstrate that our officers remain vigilant and committed to ensuring that our borders are not used for illegal activity while travel restrictions at the border continue. I am proud of the outstanding work of officers in the Southern Ontario Region who prevented this significant quantity of suspected illegal drugs from entering Canada. The CBSA and the RCMP work together to prevent illegal drug smuggling that threatens the safety of our communities.”

- Christine Durocher, Regional Director General, Southern Ontario Region, CBSA

"The RCMP is committed to protecting Canadian communities against the threat of illegal drugs even during this time of COVID19. This seizure is another example of the effective partnership that exists between the RCMP and the CBSA which has resulted in the removal of harmful, illegal suspected drugs from our streets and communities.”

-Superintendent Nancy Burniston, RCMP Ontario South-West District Commander.

Quick facts

The seizure of approximately 117 kilograms of suspected cocaine at the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge on August 18, 2020 is one of the larger land border cocaine seizures in the CBSA’s Southern Ontario Region.
From January 1, 2019 to August 31, 2020, approximately 600 kilograms of suspected cocaine was seized by the CBSA at ports of entry in the Southern Ontario Region.
If you have information about suspicious cross-border activity, please contact the CBSA Border Watch Line at 1-888-502-9060.
Anyone with information regarding criminal activity is encouraged to contact their local police, the RCMP at 1-800-387-0020 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.