"the smuggling attempt of a massive amount of narcotics"
A truck driver was arrested in Canada for allegedly smuggling approximately 112.5 kilograms of cocaine into the country from the United States.
The incident occurred in June 2021.
Pardeep Singh, aged 24, of Quebec, was driving a commercial truck when it entered Fort Erie in Ontario.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) pulled aside the truck for secondary examination.
Border agents searched the vehicle and discovered 112.5 kilograms of cocaine inside five duffel bags.
The value of the seizure is estimated at $14 million.
Singh was arrested and was transferred to the custody of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
He was charged with the importation of a controlled substance. Singh appeared at the St Catharines Courthouse on July 9, 2021.
Kim Upper, District Director, Fort Erie District Operations, CBSA, said:
“The Canada Border Services Agency plays an integral role in keeping our communities safe.
“Our officers have interrupted the smuggling attempt of a massive amount of narcotics, and have put a full stop to the ripple effect these narcotics would have in neighbourhoods across our country.
“The CBSA is extremely proud of its officers and their ongoing role in safeguarding our borders.”
Superintendent Shawn Boudreau, Officer in Charge, RCMP Border Integrity Program, O Division, said:
“The Border Integrity Program is responsible for protecting our border by preventing, detecting, and disrupting cross border criminality.
“Securing the border contributes to the national security of Canada and protects Canadians from terrorism, organised crime and other border-related criminality.
“This large drug seizure and the investigation that ensued resulting in an individual being charged is another example of the RCMP and the CBSA working together to protect our communities by preventing illegal drugs from reaching our streets.”
Previously, Canadian police busted a $2.3 million drug ring with links to India.
Investigators with the York Regional Police Organised Crime Enforcement Bureau collaborated with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Peel Regional Police, and the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
Together they busted a large-scale international drug trafficking network.
The drug ring extended to Western Canada, the United States and India.
An investigation dubbed Project Cheetah was launched in May 2020.
It looked into a network involved in the importation of cocaine, ketamine, heroin and opium into Canada.
The drugs were then distributed across Canada using a sophisticated system run by the traffickers.
On April 8, 2021, police executed more than 50 search warrants.
It resulted in 33 people charged with more than 130 criminal offences.
Despite border restrictions being in place due to Covid-19, commercial traffic remains open.
This is to maintain the flow of goods including food and medical supplies.
On July 5, 2021, some exemptions were granted to allow fully vaccinated individuals to enter in certain cases.
Meanwhile, restrictions on non-essential travel are expected to remain in place until at least July 21 as the fear of the highly contagious Delta variant has caused concern for authorities.
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