Scheme to import drugs also included marijuana-packed melons
CBC News
Posted: Jan 26, 2012 10:33 AM ET
Last Updated: Jan 26, 2012 2:34 PM ET
RCMP and border officials shed more light Thursday on what they say is a scheme to repeatedly import drugs into Canada, with cocaine-stuffed pineapples intercepted at a port in New Brunswick and marijuana packaged around watermelons seized from trucks in Ontario.
Several people have been arrested.
There were two seizures of cocaine at the Port of Saint John between August and October, with an estimated street value of $3.5 million, officials announced on Thursday — International Customs Day.
A total of 28 kilograms of cocaine were involved, officials said.
Meanwhile, two trucks, each carrying 115 kilograms of marijuana hidden in the wooden pallets, were recently stopped at the Windsor, Ont.-Detroit border.
'Drug traffickers are exceptionally creative in the way that they try to conceal and hide and bring drugs into the country.'—RCMP Supt. Rick Penney
"As long as the demand is there, people will find a way to get the supply to you," RCMP Supt. Rick Penney told CBC News.
"Drug traffickers are exceptionally creative in the way that they try to conceal and hide and bring drugs into the country," said Penney, the RCMP's drug enforcement commander in the Greater Toronto Area.
"What was unique about this ... was the continual efforts of the criminal enterprise to repeatedly perform importations into Canada of drugs from various countries: Costa Rica, Guyana, the United States and looking at Jamaica as well ," he said.
"We uncovered importation schemes using the mail, using trucks, and products out of the U.S. to bring drugs into Canada."
Cocaine hidden inside hollowed-out fruit
A total of 28 kilograms of cocaine, stuffed into hollowed-out pineapples, was seized by border officials at the Port of Saint John. (CBC)
The first seizure, made public on Wednesday, involved 80 cocaine-stuffed pineapples discovered on a marine container in Saint John on Aug. 25.
Nineteen kilograms of cocaine were concealed inside the hollowed-out fruit.
On Oct. 11, a second, similar shipment from Guyana was discovered, with officials finding nine kilograms of cocaine.
Both of the shipments had been destined for Ontario – Scarborough in suburban Toronto and Brampton, respectively.
At least six people have been arrested in connection with the two cases. Four people are being sought for extradition, said Penney.
Evidence suggests the people arrested have ties to criminal organizations in Jamaica, Guyana, Costa Rica and the United States, officials said.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...es-cocaine-port.html
CBC News
Posted: Jan 26, 2012 10:33 AM ET
Last Updated: Jan 26, 2012 2:34 PM ET
RCMP and border officials shed more light Thursday on what they say is a scheme to repeatedly import drugs into Canada, with cocaine-stuffed pineapples intercepted at a port in New Brunswick and marijuana packaged around watermelons seized from trucks in Ontario.
Several people have been arrested.
There were two seizures of cocaine at the Port of Saint John between August and October, with an estimated street value of $3.5 million, officials announced on Thursday — International Customs Day.
A total of 28 kilograms of cocaine were involved, officials said.
Meanwhile, two trucks, each carrying 115 kilograms of marijuana hidden in the wooden pallets, were recently stopped at the Windsor, Ont.-Detroit border.
'Drug traffickers are exceptionally creative in the way that they try to conceal and hide and bring drugs into the country.'—RCMP Supt. Rick Penney
"As long as the demand is there, people will find a way to get the supply to you," RCMP Supt. Rick Penney told CBC News.
"Drug traffickers are exceptionally creative in the way that they try to conceal and hide and bring drugs into the country," said Penney, the RCMP's drug enforcement commander in the Greater Toronto Area.
"What was unique about this ... was the continual efforts of the criminal enterprise to repeatedly perform importations into Canada of drugs from various countries: Costa Rica, Guyana, the United States and looking at Jamaica as well ," he said.
"We uncovered importation schemes using the mail, using trucks, and products out of the U.S. to bring drugs into Canada."
Cocaine hidden inside hollowed-out fruit
A total of 28 kilograms of cocaine, stuffed into hollowed-out pineapples, was seized by border officials at the Port of Saint John. (CBC)
The first seizure, made public on Wednesday, involved 80 cocaine-stuffed pineapples discovered on a marine container in Saint John on Aug. 25.
Nineteen kilograms of cocaine were concealed inside the hollowed-out fruit.
On Oct. 11, a second, similar shipment from Guyana was discovered, with officials finding nine kilograms of cocaine.
Both of the shipments had been destined for Ontario – Scarborough in suburban Toronto and Brampton, respectively.
At least six people have been arrested in connection with the two cases. Four people are being sought for extradition, said Penney.
Evidence suggests the people arrested have ties to criminal organizations in Jamaica, Guyana, Costa Rica and the United States, officials said.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...es-cocaine-port.html
