Canadian border officials have made the “largest drug seizure in the history of the Prairies (the North American grasslands)”. The bust, which took place at the Boissevain (land) port of entry, in Canada’s Manitoba province, resulted in the arrest of an Indian-origin driver, Komalpreet Sidhu.
The officers found 406.2 kg of suspected ‘methamphetamine’ inside the commercial truck being driven by Sidhu on January 14.
The consignment was packed in large suitcases. The CBSA agents found 200 such wrapped packages in the suitcases.
The seized methamphetamine translates to around 4 million illicit doses with an estimated market value exceeding 51 million Canadian dollars.
“This is the largest seizure of narcotics our border officers have ever made in the Prairies. Thanks to their quick and decisive action, more than 400 kg of methamphetamine were kept off our streets. The accused has been charged with the importation of methamphetamine valued at over 50 million dollars, trafficking, and smuggling into Canada,” said Janalee Bell-Boychuk, Regional Director General (Prairie Region) of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
The CBSA and the RCMP work hard every day to protect Canadians and ensure those who break our laws are held accountable,” added Regional Director General, Bell-Boychuk.
The arrested driver, identified as Indian-origin 29-year-old Komalpreet Sidhu is from Winnipeg, Canada and faces charges for the import and possession of ‘methamphetamine’, according to the CBSA.
Komalpreet is scheduled to appear in Manitoba Law Courts on February 1.
The truck coming from the United States, was linked to a Manitoba-based commercial trucking company, where authorities believe the arrested driver was employed.
The size of the shipment shows the involvement of local, national, and international players, according to RCMP Inspector Joe Telus.
“This seizure has made communities safer,” added Telus.
The cross-border drug trafficking operation is now under investigation by officials from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and international law enforcement agencies.
Telus noted that further investigation will involve tracing every aspect of the truck’s journey, from its origin in the United States to its final destination in Winnipeg, Canada.
“We have to work backwards. We need to find out exactly where it came from and what they intended to do with it,” Inspector Telus told the CBC.
“The confiscated drugs will eventually be destroyed,” Inspector Telus added.
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