Cocaine seizures at Canada's borders spike as pandemic wanes
Cocaine seizures at Canada’s borders rose sharply when restrictions loosened, according to new figures released by the Canadian Border Services Agency, with experts saying it’s a sign that drug traffickers are getting back to business as the pandemic wanes.
Facing a downturn in regular trade, drug trafficking networks turned to couriers which were more likely to be caught at ports of entry, Mount Royal University’s Kelly Sundberg told CTV News Toronto in an interview.
“It was much more difficult for drug dealers to smuggle during [the pandemic],” Sundberg said. “They changed their operation to couriers. It makes sense we’re seeing more seizures at airports and cargo with couriers.”
In the fiscal year ending in 2018, CBSA agents seized 2,860 kg of cocaine, including coca leaves, coca paste, crack cocaine, and cocaine residue, according to figures provided by the agency.
By the fiscal year ending in 2021 — the year that corresponded to the onset of the pandemic — that had nosedived to 1,214 kg of cocaine.
Source: CBSA
The next year, propelled in part by one 1.5-ton seizure in the port of St. John, CBSA cocaine seizures rose to 2,875 kg.
And the following year stayed high, at 1,812 kg — about 50 per cent more than pandemic lows.
A Windsor, Ont. judge weighed in on a CBSA seizure in a decision released this month, finding Federico Jimenez-Martinez guilty of possession for the 18 bricks of cocaine found in his vehicle’s spare tire, worth as much as $2 million.
He admitted having the cocaine in August 2021, but said he had only intended to drive from Arizona to Michigan, U.S., and went over the Ambassador Bridge into Ontario by accident, court documents show.
Prosecutors admitted they couldn’t prove he intended to cross the border, and withdrew an additional trafficking charge.
Jimenez-Martinez claimed that he was under duress, facing threats by cartel members in Mexico if he didn’t deliver.
Justice K.W. Munroe found his brother did receive threats — but it was much more likely that was the cartel looking to enforce a drug debt created when those bricks didn’t arrive at their destination.
A still image from CBSA surveillance video obtained from Ontario Superior Court shows Federico Jimenez-Martinez being led away as his vehicle is searched by border guards.
As seized amounts rise, it’s likely that the amount of cocaine being smuggled in undetected is also increasing, Sundberg said, pointing to figures that show Canadians’ per capita use of cocaine is quite high, and the country has negligible cocaine production.
“Last year, New Zealand seized more cocaine than Canada. A tiny little island in the Pacific. So 3,000 kg sounds like a lot, but it’s to me an indicator that we really need to do a lot more with respect to border security, and we’re not,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Pack the macaroni necklace: Lessons on evacuations from a woman who fled one of Canada's worst wildfires
Carol Christian had 15 minutes to evacuate her home during the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016. She ended up losing the house and everything inside. Now, she wants to share the lessons she learned.
Scheffler detained by police at PGA Championship for not following orders after traffic fatality
Masters champion Scottie Scheffler was detained by police Friday morning on his way to the PGA Championship, with stunning images showing him handcuffed as he was led to a police car. ESPN reported he failed to follow police orders during a pedestrian fatality investigation.
Ontario sees first measles death in more than a decade after young child dies
A young child has died of measles in Ontario, marking the first death in the province from the highly contagious virus in more than 10 years, a Public Health Ontario report confirms.
Think twice before sharing 'heartbreaking' social media posts, RCMP warn
Mounties in B.C. are urging people to think twice before sharing "heartbreaking posts" on social media.
'Ugly produce': One way Canadians are shrinking rising grocery bills
As the cost of food in Canada has risen, grocery shoppers are looking at ways to reduce their grocery bill, and more are choosing price over beauty, turning to companies that deliver so-called 'misfit' produce at a fraction of the cost.
Vatican revamps norms to evaluate visions of Mary as it adapts to Internet age and combats hoaxers
The Vatican on Friday radically reformed its process for evaluating alleged visions of the Virgin Mary, weeping statues and other seemingly supernatural phenomena, insisting on having the final say in whether the events are worthy of popular devotion.
Wildfires are dampening against cool, rainy weather, but there's plenty left to contain
An opportune system of cool, wet weather Friday is dampening the spread of wildfires across Western Canada, but there's still plenty of work for responders and residents alike.
Jessica Biel hopes to normalize the conversation around menstruation with a new children's book
Jessica Biel is the author of a new children’s book focused on destigmatizing and normalizing the conversation around menstruation.
5 secrets to moving better and preventing avoidable injury
Countless people seek emergency care for back pain, muscle strains and similar injuries resulting from “moving wrong” during mundane, everyday tasks such as bending over to tie shoes, lifting objects or doing household chores.