A trucker arrested at the Blue Water Bridge amid what officials said was a significant seizure of suspected cocaine – 224 kilograms worth about $9.4 million – was granted bail Friday.
A trucker arrested at the Blue Water Bridge amid what officials said was a significant seizure of suspected cocaine – 224 kilograms worth about $9.4 million – was granted bail Friday.
Officials said border officers stationed in a secondary examination area on the Canadian side of the international crossing between Michigan and the Sarnia area on Oct. 17 noticed inconsistencies in a truck’s load. A detailed inspection led to the discovery of 188 brick-shaped objects of suspected cocaine. The driver was arrested and transferred to the custody of the RCMP, along with the suspected narcotics, officials said.
Zenon Bialkowski, 68, from Brampton was charged with importing cocaine and possession for the purpose of trafficking.
After spending the past month in the Sarnia Jail, a justice of the peace ordered Bialkowski’s release Friday on a $200,000 bail plan, but not until a $50,000 deposit was made to the court. It’s not clear when Bialkowski, a long-haul trucker who drove for Landstar System prior to his arrest, will actually be released, but he will be living under house arrest with his daughter and her husband. They’re on the hook for half of the money if he’s caught breaking any of the rules.
The reasons for justice of the peace Helen Gale’s decision and evidence heard at Friday’s bail hearing are protected by court order. Bialkowski, sitting in the Sarnia courtroom’s prisoner’s box wearing a blue and white dress shirt, showed little emotion after hearing her decision.
The case was adjourned to mid-December, but Bialkowski doesn’t have to be there that day as defense lawyer Robert McFadden can represent him.
Last year, Bialkowski received an award from Landstar as one of its “One Million Mile Safe Drivers” from 2020. Bialkowski also appeared in the June 2013 edition of Truck News, where a reporter asked multiple truckers at a Mississauga truck stop whether dash-mounted cameras were necessary or intrusive.
This was the fourth major alleged drug bust at the Blue Water Bridge involving a commercial truck this year. Suitcases holding 100 bricks of suspected cocaine were discovered in late June. About 60 kilograms of suspected cocaine was found in April, although new charges linked to heroin were later ugly. In January, about 265 kilograms of suspected heroin, pink cocaine and methamphetamines was seized.
The first three suspects, all truckers, previously applied for bail; two of the three were approved and one was denied. All three cases are still before the courts.