Record seizure at border

By Brendan Shriane

Canadian customs agents at the Pacific Highway Truck Crossing seized 49.5 kilograms (109 pounds) and $65,000 in U.S. Currency on June 14. It was the largest cocaine bust customs has made at a land crossing in western Canada – the third largest at a land crossing in Canadian history.

Agents were first alerted to the possible presence of the illicit cargo by detector dog Speed, a Labrador retriever with less than a year of service with the agency.

Customs said they recovered a duffle bag containing cocaine bricks and a backpack full of the cash in the cab of a semi driven by Gurjant Singh Sandu of Surrey, B.C. The truck was returning from a trip to California. Sandu was an employee of an unnamed trucking company.

That much cocaine would yield a quarter million doses, which is how customs measures drug seizures. “That’s what’s important – that these won’t make it into the schoolyards,” customs communications manager Paula Shore said.

Sandu has been charged with importing a narcotic and possession with intent to traffic. His first court appearance was set for June 20.

This is the second large drug haul for the Customs service’s Pacific Highway District this year. Agents seized 22 kilograms (44 pounds) at the Aldergrove port of entry in May.

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