Canada’s border agency has seized nearly 1,400 kilograms of contraband cannabis in a major bust at the Port of Montreal.
The cannabis, valued at over $12.8 million, was destined for Nigeria, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said in a Jan. 22 release.
The seizure followed an inspection of a marine container, which was loaded with vehicles and vehicle parts, by CBSA officers from the Montreal Marine and Rail Service on Dec. 27, 2024. The 1,384.5 kilograms of cannabis was found concealed in more than 3,100 sealed packets and packed into 59 large sports bags.
The seized goods have been handed over to the RCMP for further investigation. No arrests have been reported so far.
“This seizure is another example of the CBSA’s efforts to secure the border and prevent the export of contraband abroad. Seizures like these contribute significantly to ensuring that organized crime does not benefit from unlawful gains,” Eric Lapierre, CBSA’s Regional Director General for Quebec, said in the release.
While possessing up to 30 grams of cannabis is legal in Canada, importing or exporting cannabis in any form without a permit or exemption authorized by Health Canada is a criminal offence subject to punishment of up to 14 years in jail.
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In the first two quarters of 2024, the CBSA reported seizing nearly 9,500 kilograms of cannabis products, including dried and fresh cannabis, seeds, solids, non-solids, concentrates, and synthetic cannabis. The agency also intercepted significant quantities of other hard drugs during this period, including roughly 1,100 kilograms of cocaine, 195 kilograms of opioids, and more.
The federal government recently announced a $1.3 billion investment over six years to enhance border security, with a particular focus on combating the illicit drug trade. About $355 million of the funding will go to the CBSA to improve detection capabilities, including the creation of a new Canadian Drug Profiling Centre to support 2,000 investigations annually, Public Safety Canada said in a December press release. The CBSA will also deploy new chemical detection tools at high-risk ports and expand canine teams to help intercept illegal drugs.
These measures were announced amid tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump following his victory in the November 2024 election. He had expressed concerns about the flow of illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl, into the United States from Canada, as well as illegal immigrants crossing the Canada-U.S. border. Following his inauguration, Trump suggested that a 25 percent tariff on Canada could be imposed as early as Feb. 1.
Some provinces are also taking added measures to secure their borders against illicit drug flow. Ontario launched Operation Deterrence earlier this month, deploying 200 officers and various technologies to address illegal border crossings and trafficking.
In December, Alberta introduced a new patrol unit to combat drug smuggling, gun trafficking, and illegal migration along its border with the U.S. state of Montana. Meanwhile, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew also announced plans to deploy conservation officers to support U.S. border surveillance.
