{"id":18148,"date":"2025-02-25T21:54:18","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T21:54:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/25\/nearly-3m-in-cocaine-meth-seized-from-trucks-entering-canada-at-coutts-border-crossing\/"},"modified":"2025-02-25T21:54:18","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T21:54:18","slug":"nearly-3m-in-cocaine-meth-seized-from-trucks-entering-canada-at-coutts-border-crossing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/25\/nearly-3m-in-cocaine-meth-seized-from-trucks-entering-canada-at-coutts-border-crossing\/","title":{"rendered":"Nearly $3M in cocaine, meth seized from trucks entering Canada at Coutts border crossing"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Large shipments of Canada-bound meth and cocaine worth nearly $3 million were seized at the Alberta border on two different days back in December and January.<\/p>\n

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The Canada Border Services Agency<\/a> (CBSA) said it intercepted of 186 kg of methamphetamine and 42 kg of cocaine from two commercial trucks seeking entry at the Coutts border crossing<\/a> in southern Alberta.<\/p>\n

The first seizure happened on Dec. 24, 2024, when CBSA officers examined a commercial truck that was carrying a mixed load destined for Calgary.<\/p>\n

During the examination, the CBSA said officers noticed abnormalities in the load that led to the discovery of 186 kg of methamphetamine, with an estimated value of $1.86 million.<\/p>\n

The second discovery was made three weeks later at the same port of entry, which is the busiest crossing in Alberta.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Canada Border Services Agency seized 186 kg of methamphetamine and 42 kg of cocaine from commercial trucks trying to enter Canada at the Coutts port of entry in southern Alberta.\t\t\t\t<\/span>
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\n\t\t\t\t\tCourtesy: Canada Border Services Agency\t\t\t\t<\/cite>
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On Jan. 18, the CBSA said another commercial truck carrying a mixed shipment, also destined for Calgary, was directed to secondary examination.<\/p>\n

During the search, the government agency said officers found two cardboard boxes in the truck trailer containing multiple bricks of cocaine.<\/p>\n

In total, officers discovered and seized 42 kg of cocaine, with an estimated value of over $1 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese significant seizures are examples of the dedication and expertise of CBSA\u2019s officers as they continue to work each and every day to prevent illegal drugs, like fentanyl, and contraband from breaching our borders,\u201d Public Safety Minister David McGuinty said in a statement.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe safety and security of Canadians is our top priority.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In both cases, the CBSA arrested the drivers, who were transferred to the custody of Alberta RCMP.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIllicit drugs destroy lives and cause serious harm to communities,\u201d said Assistant Commissioner Lisa Moreland, regional commander of the RCMP\u2019s northwest region.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe RCMP remains committed to sharing intelligence and working in close collaboration with the Canada Border Services Agency and international law enforcement partners to stop these illicit, dangerous, and toxic drugs from infiltrating into our towns and cities in Alberta and across Canada.\u201d<\/p>\n

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These latest seizures came after nearly $2 million with of cocaine (189 kg) was also found coming into Canada at the Coutts border crossing back in November 2024.<\/p>\n

The drug seizures all came before several high-profile measures were put in place along the Canadian-U.S. border amid America\u2019s growing pressure to stop illegal border crossings and drug trafficking.<\/p>\n

Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt said the large amount of drugs seized coming north poke holes in the argument U.S. President Donald Trump has used to threaten various tariff threats against Canada.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThis was never about fentanyl, never about the border,\u201d Bratt said about Trump\u2019s claims that too many narcotics like fentanyl are flowing south of the border into America.<\/p>\n

Instead, Canada appears to have a bigger problem with the reverse.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s where we\u2019re seeing most of these seizures that are occurring because, quite frankly, that is where the problem lies,\u201d Bratt said of drugs coming north.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust ask (Public Safety Minister) Mike Ellis. You know, he talks about the influx of drugs coming from the U.S. into Canada. That\u2019s not what the Trump administration says, and that\u2019s not what (Alberta Premier) Danielle Smith says.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bratt said the evidence again shows Trump will say anything, regardless of if it\u2019s true or not. While Smith continues to express a desire to negotiate with Trump, Bratt expressed doubt at the effectiveness of such a strategy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what his real end game is. Is it about the border? Is about money to the U.S. Treasury? Is it about annexing Canada? After all, he\u2019s negotiated the NAFTA deal.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHis word, his signature, mean virtually nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Last month, the RCMP ramped up border surveillance by bringing in a Black Hawk helicopter<\/a> to patrol the Alberta border.<\/p>\n

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The government is deploying a range of other security measures as well, such as using drones and surveillance towers, and acquiring new technology such as X-rays, mobile X-rays and handheld chemical analyzers.<\/p>\n

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