NRI
trucker arrested for drug smuggling worth $10M
at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario
200 kilograms of cocaine seized at Windsor–Detroit border
Windsor, Ontario, April 20, 2009
Satinder Sharma
NRI Karamjit Grewal, 45, from Brampton, is charged with importation
of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance
for the purpose of trafficking. CBSA officers seized 80 kilograms
of suspected cocaine during the examination of a tractor-trailer.
The narcotics, with an estimated street value of $10 million,
were discovered inside two boxes and two pails.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that
its officers at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario, seized
a total of 200 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated
street value of $25 million, in two separate cases over a four-day
period.
On April 9, 2009, during the examination of a tractor-trailer,
CBSA officers uncovered 120 kilograms of suspected cocaine with
an estimated street value of $15 million. The officers found the
cocaine inside four produce boxes. A 29 year-old man from Plessisville,
Quebec, and a 39 year-old man from Thetford Mines, Quebec, have
been charged under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act with
importation of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled
substance for the purpose of trafficking.
These two seizures follow on the heels of a major cocaine seizure
on March 19, 2009, in which CBSA officers at the Ambassador Bridge
seized 78 kilograms of cocaine.
CBSA officers work to keep illegal drugs and other contraband
from entering Canada. Since 2005, over 1.25 tonnes of cocaine
has been seized by CBSA officers in the CBSA's Windsor–St.
Clair Region. These seizures are an important contribution to
keeping Canadian communities safe.
Minister Van Loan applauds CBSA officers for
two significant cocaine seizures at Windsor border said:
"I want to thank the diligent work of the Border Services
Officers who prevented two key attempts to smuggle illicit drugs
into Canada. The officers' thorough efforts, coupled with sophisticated
detection technology, helped keep drugs off our streets and our
communities safe. These busts follow another recent seizure last
month at the same crossing where 78 kilograms of cocaine were
discovered with an estimated worth of $9.8 million.
This Government's message is clear - the trafficking and distribution
of illicit drugs will not be tolerated. As part of our commitment,
we have invested $102 million over five years under the National
Anti-Drug Strategy, to help law enforcement make our communities
safer, by keeping illegal drugs off our streets. Our Government
has taken several other steps to tackle crime, including:
