Cocaine Bust at Border
WINDSOR – Crimebeat – The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Southern Ontario Region, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Windsor Detachment, announced today that CBSA officers seized approximately 14 kilograms of suspected cocaine at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario.On October 29, 2013, a commercial tractor-trailer was referred for a secondary examination at the Ambassador Bridge Commercial Operations. During the examination, CBSA officers discovered approximately 14 kilograms (12 bricks) of suspected cocaine in a storage area located inside the tractor.
The CBSA arrested the driver and, as a result of a joint investigation, the RCMP charged Aleksandar Vuletic, 28, from Kitchener, Ontario with unlawfully importing a controlled substance contrary to section 6(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), and possession of a substance for the purpose of trafficking contrary to section 5(2) of the CDSA.
“We are committed to stopping the smuggling of illegal drugs at our borders and this seizure illustrates the great work being done by CBSA officers to make our communities safer,” said Rick Comerford, Regional Director General, Southern Ontario Region. “The CBSA works closely with the RCMP to impede the flow of drugs across the border and protect the safety and security of Canadians.”
This is the third significant drug seizure for the CBSA at the Ambassador Bridge in the past six months. On May 28, CBSA officers seized 23 kilograms of cocaine; and on August 4, CBSA officers seized a total of 53 kilograms of cocaine and 23 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine.
“This interception has stopped over 28,000 half-gram doses of cocaine from profiting organized crime and reaching individuals in our communities,” stated Inspector Serge Cote, officer in charge of the Windsor RCMP Detachment. “The safety, security and well-being of Canadians are the ultimate goal of the RCMP and CBSA.”
Anyone with information about suspicious cross-border activity is asked to call the Ontario RCMP at 1-800-387-0020, the CBSA Border Watch Line at 1-888-502-9060 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
