CBSA officers at the Montréal-Trudeau Airport make two major cocaine seizures since the beginning of 2012

MONTREAL, Jan. 16, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers at the Montréal-Trudeau Airport have made two major cocaine seizures from travellers' suitcases since the beginning of 2012. In total, over 7.5 kilos of cocaine were intercepted, the estimated value of which is $340,000.

The first seizure was made in the early hours of January 1, 2012; nearly 5 kilos of cocaine were found in the two suitcases of a traveller arriving from the Dominican Republic.

A week later, on January 8, border services officers made a second seizure of 2.5 kilos of cocaine, in the suitcase of a traveller also arriving from the Dominican Republic.

Both travellers claimed that they had been travelling for leisure, but X-ray inspections showed masses under false bottoms in their suitcases. Officers used drills to extract a white powder. Tests conducted using Ionscan and NIK Test showed that the substance was cocaine.

CBSA officers arrested the travellers and turned them over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who will conduct an investigation.

CBSA officers play an essential role in intercepting illegal drugs and other contraband items at Canada's ports of entry. These seizures help to prevent illegal drug smuggling that endangers the safety of Canadian communities and generates profits for organized crime.

From January 1 to December 31, 2011, CBSA officers made 10,307 seizures of drugs, the total value of which was nearly $1.7 billion in the Quebec region.

Photos available upon request.

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