Border agents in Manitoba are claiming one of the biggest cocaine seizures in years at the Port of Emerson after stopping a commercial vehicle whose primary load was made to appear to be corn.
Canada Border Services Agency officials say the incident occurred on July 14 when agents deployed a detector dog to assist in the search for the possibility of narcotics in the load of corn.
More than 60 kilograms of cocaine were uncovered in the subsequent search with an estimated street value of $6 million.
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CBSA said the seizure is the largest of its kind in the past five years.
Winnipeg resident Varinder Kaushik, 31, faces drug trafficking charges in relation to the incident and is currently on release on conditions pending a trial date.
“This seizure shows that the combined efforts of enforcement agencies makes a difference. Any disruption to the flow of drugs into this country has far-reaching effects and has a significant impact on the safety of our communities,” said Rob Hill, Manitoba RCMP assistant commissioner, in a statement. “The RCMP remains committed to enforcing laws against illicit drugs to their full extent.”
