More than 2,700 kilograms of cannabis concealed within shipments of lumber and paper towel intended for the United Kingdom has been confiscated in Montreal, thwarting a potential smuggling operation that may support organized crime, Canadian border authorities say.
Border agents found 2,550 kilograms of cannabis hidden in bundles of lumber on Sept. 17. Agents identified a second shipment containing 173 kilograms of cannabis hidden inside boxes of paper towel rolls eight days later, on Sept 26.
The drugs were handed over to the RCMP, the agency said. It noted that although cannabis is legal in Canada, importing or exporting it in any form without a permit or exemption authorized by Health Canada is “a serious criminal offence.”
Those caught trying to export the drug could face up to five years in jail under the Customs Act, the border agency said. Offenders could also be sentenced for up to 14 years under the Cannabis Act, it said.
“Cannabis smuggling supports organized crime and helps fund other illegal activities, such as narcotics and weapons smuggling,” CBSA said.
CBSA Regional Director Eric Lapierre said the “vigilance” of border agents at the Montreal port enabled the seizures.
“Every seizure strikes a blow against organized crime and helps make our communities safer,” he said.
The Montreal seizure comes about six months after border agents located nearly $50 million worth of cannabis at the Port of Saint John in New Brunswick. That shipment was also heading to the UK, and was linked to organized crime, CBSA said at the time.
The shipment contained more than 6,700 kilograms of cannabis with an estimated value of $49.6 million and was destined for Scotland. The drugs were discovered inside 400 cardboard boxes in a marine container, according to CBSA. It added the drugs were falsely declared on documentation provided to the agency.
