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Canada’s border authorities say they recently seized 197 kilograms of suspected cocaine at the Blue Water Bridge border crossing in Point Edward, Ont.
According to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the seizure of the large suspected drug shipment occurred July 23 during secondary inspection of a commercial truck entering from the United States.
During the search of the truck’s trailer, CBSA says it discovered seven large bags containing suspected cocaine having a street value estimated around $24.6 million. The CBSA arrested the suspect, 29-year-old Onkar Kalsi of Caledon, Ont., and turned him over to the RCMP, who charged Kalsi with importing cocaine and possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. CBSA notes this investigation is ongoing.
“This significant cocaine seizure highlights the critical role our border services officers play in disrupting the illegal flow of drugs into Canada,” said Michael Prosia, CBSA’s regional director general for the Southern Ontario Region. “This success is a result of their vigilance and dedication, as well as the strength of our ongoing collaboration with the RCMP to protect our communities.”
The Blue Water Bridge, which crosses into Canada near Sarnia, Ont., has been the site of a number of previous drug busts by the CBSA. This past February at the same border crossing, the CBSA seized more than 86 kilograms of suspected cocaine, which led to the arrest of Pawandeep Dhillon, along with a seizure in early March of 333 kilograms of suspected cocaine that led to the arrest of Ravinderbir Singh.
In May, a truck carrying 50 kilograms of suspected cocaine led to an arrest as part of a transnational crime ring, while in June, 27-year-old Karamveer Singh was arrested after CBSA says he tried to transport 187 kilograms of cocaine over the Blue Water Bridge.
According to the CBSA, there has been a 294 percent increase in cocaine seized trying to enter Canada from the United States between 2020 to 2024, along with a 205 percent rise in meth—and a 1,600 percent increase in fentanyl entering Canada from the United States between 2021 to 2024.
The CBSA says it has seized 1,164 kilograms of cocaine coming out of the United States between January 1 to July 10 of this year, along with 514 kilograms of cocaine from all other countries combined.
