A few examples of unusual drug seizures made in postal packages since the beginning of 2015

News Release

During the first two months of 2015, border services officers assigned to the inspection of international mail at the Léo-Blanchette Mail Processing Centre in Montréal uncovered several drug importation schemes. Here are a few examples where their vigilance was not circumvented:

On January 15, 140 grams of suspected cocaine were intercepted. The drugs were hidden inside a horse-shaped statue. One individual was arrested in British Columbia by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
On February 4, 362 grams of suspected opium from Turkey were intercepted. They appeared to be pieces of chocolate and each piece was individually wrapped in candy wrapping.
On February 10, 40 seeds of suspected marijuana were intercepted. They were hidden in bags of fine gravel in a parcel from the Netherlands. The seeds were of the same size and appearance as the gravel.
On February 18, 137 grams of amphetamines were seized. They had the appearance of a powdered strawberry drink mix in a parcel arriving from the Netherlands. Tests made at the CBSA lab indicate that the substance contained amphetamine.
On February 18, 1.9 kilograms of suspected cocaine were found in parcel that contained handcrafted woven bags from Peru. The suspected drug was concealed in the sides of the bags.

All of the suspected drugs and narcotics were handed over to the RCMP.

Quick facts

In 2014, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) made a total of 1,858 seizures in Quebec.
In 2014, the CBSA made 1,242 seizures in the postal mode in Quebec.

Quote

“Smugglers use a variety of techniques to hide narcotics. Thanks to their training and experience, border services officers know how to foil the most subtle schemes.”

Benoît Chiquette, Regional Director General, CBSA, Quebec Region

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