The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says two men have been charged after officers in Ontario seized more than $11 million worth of cocaine being shipped into the country.
The seizure is said to be part of Operation Blizzard, a joint mission between the CBSA and RCMP to stop drugs from crossing the U.S. border. It’s part of Ottawa’s response to U.S. President Donald Trump, who said Canada needed to do more to stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States. It was one of the reasons Trump said he would impose tariffs on Canada.
CBSA said the seizures were made at the Blue Water Bridge port of entry in Ontario.
The drugs are said to have an estimated street value of $11 million, CBSA said in a March 19 news release.
The two shipments that were intercepted were inbound from the United States, CBSA said.
The agency said border officers found four duffle bags with about 86 kilograms of suspected cocaine on Feb. 27, after the search of a commercial truck from the United States. The drugs had an estimated value of $2.3 million, the release said.
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Pawandeep Dhillon, 34, from Innisfil, Ontario, has been charged by the RCMP with importing a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.
CBSA said another tractor-trailer from the United States was searched on March 6, where officers found 333 kilograms of suspected cocaine. The drugs had an estimated value of $9 million, CBSA said.
Ravinderbir Singh, 23, from Brampton, has been charged with importing a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.
Both matters are before the courts, according to the CBSA.
Cocaine Caught at Coutts
Border agents also recently reportedly caught cocaine being brought into Canada from the United States at the Coutts border in Alberta.
A commercial truck was stopped and searched at the border crossing on March 8, CBSA said. Officers seized about 108 kilograms of cocaine that was hidden in the vehicle, according to CBSA.
As a result, Arshdeep Singh, 26, of Calgary, has been charged with importation of a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking.
4 Charged
Four individuals have been charged after CBSA said they were trying to smuggle ketamine into the country from Europe.
CBSA says that the drug is a dangerous anesthetic that is sometimes used in sexual assaults.
It is odorless and colourless that can be a medical anesthetic but is also sold illegally.
The four individuals were caught in separate incidents between Feb. 18 and March 3 by agents at Toronto Pearson International Airport, CBSA said.
Border officers searched the suspects’ bags, reportedly finding 154 kilograms of ketamine inside the luggage. The drugs were said to have a street value of $4.6 million.
As a result, Alison Louise Olmes, 63, is accused of smuggling 30.8 kilograms of ketamine, and has been charged with importing a controlled substance.
Courtney Linda Johanne Desbois, 27, is accused of trying to bring 31.8 kilograms of the drug into Canada, and is facing a charge of importing a controlled substance.
Lamia Hamici, 40, is accused of attempting to smuggle 60 kilograms of ketamine into the country and is facing a charge of importing a controlled substance.
Britney Carolyn Allen, 32, is also facing a charge of importing a controlled substance. She has been accused of attempting to smuggle 30.95 kilograms into Canada.
