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Prosecutions and Seizures
Atlantic Region
CBSA seizes large amount of cocaine at the Port of Saint John
Saint John, New Brunswick, June 22, 2012 - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) today announced the seizure of two separate shipments of cocaine totaling 170 kg at the Port of Saint John, New Brunswick.
On May 29, while conducting a secondary examination of a marine container, CBSA officers discovered the drugs in a shipment of sauces, seasonings and noodles originating in Guyana, in South America, and destined for Mississauga, Ontario. Using X-ray technology, border services officers detected anomalies within the wooden pallets in the shipment. A total of 121 kg of cocaine was seized.
On June 5, CBSA officers discovered similar concealment methods in another shipment of food products from Guyana and destined for North York, Ontario. Using the same secondary examination tools, CBSA officers found another 49 kg of cocaine.
"These seizures demonstrate the hard work of our officers in detecting these hidden drugs," said Andrew LeFrank, Regional Director General, CBSA Atlantic Region. "We have kept hundreds of thousands of doses of this dangerous drug off our streets, and kept the profits out of the pockets of drug smugglers."
The CBSA collaborated with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Saint John City Police. A subsequent investigation by the RCMP resulted in charges against five individuals for the first seizure and the arrest of three more individuals for the second seizure. All individuals are residents of Ontario.
The CBSA works closely with the RCMP and other law enforcement partners, like the Saint John Police Force, to prevent drugs and other contraband from entering Canada. If you have witnessed or are aware of an incident involving suspicious cross-border activity, please contact the CBSA Border Watch Toll-free Line at 1-888-502-9060.
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For media information:
CBSA Atlantic Region Communications
902-426-0900
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May 29-1: On May 29, CBSA officers at the Port of Saint John discovered 121 kg of cocaine concealed within modified wooden pallets in a shipping container.
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May 29-2: Small, flat packages of cocaine were found hidden within doubled-up boards on wooden pallets at the Port of Saint John on May 29.
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June 5-1: On June 5, CBSA officers at the Port of Saint John discovered an additional 49 kg of cocaine.
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June 5-2: On June 5, a similar concealment method was used to hide packages of cocaine discovered by CBSA officers in Saint John.
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