Prosecutions and Seizures

Niagara–Fort Erie Region

Border services officers seize over half a million dollars in suspected drugs at the Peace Bridge

Fort Erie, Ontario, April 28, 2010 — The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that its officers in the Niagara–Fort Erie Region seized over 50 kilos of narcotics worth over $600,000 in two separate instances.

On April 21, 2010, border services officers from the Peace Bridge Commercial Operations examined a courier shipment declared as herbs. With the assistance of the Contraband Outfitted Mobile Examination Truck, officers found 25 kilos of suspected doda worth $50,000. doda is an addictive opiate derived from dried poppy flowers. All substances containing opium poppy are prohibited from entering Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

In a separate incident, a male from Massachusetts was referred for a secondary examination at the Peace Bridge on April 22, 2010. In the trunk of his vehicle, border services officers discovered three cellophane-wrapped packages inside a hockey bag. In total, officers seized over 25 kilos of suspected marijuana with an estimated value of $540,000.

“Thanks to the outstanding cooperation between law enforcement agencies, these suspected illegal narcotics have been prevented from reaching our streets,” said the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety. "I commend the efforts of the CBSA in working to keep our communities safe. This Government is committed to giving law enforcement the tools they need to stop illegal drugs from crossing our border.”

The doda seizure is the largest of its kind for the Niagara–Fort Erie Region while the marijuana seizure is the second largest for the region.

The non-resident was charged by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with possession for the purposes of trafficking and importing.

Border services officers play a vital role in the interception of illegal drugs at Canadian ports of entry. Since January 1, officers in the Niagara–Fort Erie Region have made 194 drug seizures.

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For media information:

Jean D’Amelio Swyer
Regional Communications Manager, CBSA
Telephone: 905-354-2011
Cell: 905-933-5463
E-mail: Jean.DAmelioSwyer@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca