Three men have been arrested and more than 100 kilograms of methamphetamine has been seized after RCMP in British Columbia disrupted a scheme to transport the drugs to Australia, concealed in jars of pickles.
The Australian Federal Police and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) launched a joint investigation after police identified two suspects allegedly involved in the importation of drugs from Canada into Australia, the RCMP said in a press release.
The probe resulted in the confiscation of 115 kilograms of methamphetamine at the Tsawwassen, B.C., container facility in January. The drugs had been slated for shipment to Melbourne.
Two male suspects were arrested in Australia on March 17 and a foreign national was arrested the same day in Kelowna, B.C., police said.
A 40-year-old and 63-year-old from Australia are facing several charges after Australian police searched two residences in Sydney and Melbourne. Officers seized $400,000 in cash, eight one-kilogram silver bars, a luxury vehicle, jewelery, watches, electronic devices, and drug paraphernalia during the searches, police said.
The 40-year-old was charged with one count of attempting to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs and one count of conspiracy to import the drugs. The 63-year-old faces one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs.
A 46-year-old foreign national was arrested in Kelowna, B.C., on the same day. He was later released by the RCMP pending further investigation. Police said the man was referred to the CBSA “for appropriate immigration enforcement action.”
RCMP officers executed search warrants in Abbotsford, Kelowna, and the Lower Nicola region as part of the investigation, seizing cellphones and other devices, according to the press release.
RCMP Pacific acting deputy regional commander Tim Arseneault said the operation was “the direct result of sustained international co-operation and the dedication of law enforcement professionals across multiple countries.”
The RCMP and CBSA have made several major methamphetamine seizures this year. One of the largest occurred this winter in Ontario when border officers seized 266.4 kilograms of methamphetamine from a commercial truck at the Blue Water Bridge port of entry near Sarnia.
The RCMP charged 29-year-old Kulbir Singh of Woodstock, Ont., with importation of methamphetamine as well as possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking in connection with the incident.
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive synthetic stimulant, primarily impacting the central nervous system and inducing intense feelings of euphoria by increasing dopamine release in the brain.
It can come in the form of a powder or as crystals or tablets and can be smoked, snorted, injected or swallowed. It is also known as ice, chalk, crank, and crystal meth.
