Canada Border Services Agency
Symbol of the Government of Canada

Prosecutions and Seizures

Windsor/St. Clair Region

171 kilograms of cocaine seized at Windsor border crossing

Windsor, Ontario, February 21, 2007 - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that officers at the Ambassador Bridge seized approximately 171 kilograms of suspected cocaine, with an estimated street value of $21 million.  One of the largest amounts of cocaine seized at a land border crossing in Canada.

CBSA officers uncovered the drugs on February 19, 2007, during the routine examination of a tractor-trailer of fresh mixed produce from California. A total of 7 duffle bags and 1 suitcase, containing a total of 109 bricks of cocaine were found within the load.

Charged with the Importation of a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking are Sandeep Hans, age 29, of Mississauga, Ontario and Lachhman Chahal, age 37 of Brantford, Ontario.

The CBSA investigation of the smuggling attempt is ongoing.   If you have any information about this case, or you have witnessed or are aware of an incident involving suspicious cross-border activity, please contact the CBSA's Border Watch Toll-free Line at 1-888-502-9060.

-30-

For media information