MISSISSAUGA: Customs officers were almost finished inspecting the baggage that came off a flight from Argentina, when they came across a strange-looking duffel bag.
The investigation resulted in more than six kilograms of cocaine being seized and a hunt for a GTA drug trafficker.
The Canada Border Services Agency officers say the seizure came as officers monitored the offload of baggage arriving on a flight from Buenos Aires, Argentina. One of the last bags was a large duffel bag that raised suspicions of the officers, the CBSA said. Upon further inspection of the duffel bag, officers discovered six bricks containing a substance that field tested positive for suspected cocaine.
The packages were turned over to Peel Regional Police and the investigation is ongoing.
“This is yet another significant narcotic seizure by officers in recent weeks. I want to warn would-be smugglers that attempting to smuggle drugs is simply not worth it,” said said Goran Vragovic, Regional Director General of CBSA, Greater Toronto Area Region. “CBSA officers are always on the lookout for contraband and we will not allow criminals to use our international airports for illegal activities.”
Last year, the CBSA in the Greater Toronto Area made 180 cocaine seizures totaling over 954 kg. Thus far in 2015, CBSA officers at Pearson have made 25 narcotic seizures, including cocaine, heroin and khat.
