A Brantford man is facing charges after almost $200 million in cocaine being shipped from Central America was seized in early January in Saint John, NB, by the Canada Border Services Agency.
Kyle Alexander Purvis, 34, was arrested in Brantford on Jan. 27 after RCMP officers, CBSA agents, Brantford police and five other area police services executed a search warrant.
While six people were arrested, Purvis was the only one charged. His charges are importing a controlled substance into Canada and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. He has been granted lease under strict conditions.
According to an RCMP news release Thursday, the CBSA agency began tracking a marine shipping container last December, saying it contained goods imported by a Greater Toronto Area resident with a final destination of Saint John.
The container was examined at the port on Jan. 7 and border services officers seized 1.5 tons of cocaine, which was turned over to the RCMP.
The value of the seizure is valued at about $198 million and is said to be the largest amount seized from a marine container in Atlantic Canada in three decades.
Those involved credit the success of the operation to the “outstanding collaboration” of multiple border agency units as well as the RCMP in both Ontario and New Brunswick, plus they recognized the assistance of police services from Brantford, Waterloo, Peel, Hamilton, OPP and Durham who were involved in Purvis’s arrest on Jan. 27.
Federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino thanked all those involved in the operation, saying they worked together to “disrupt criminal activity, protect Canadians and their families from the harmful impacts of drug smuggling and ensure the integrity of our border.”
CBSA president John Ossowski said the agency’s employees are committed to detecting and intercepting contraband goods at the border.
“This seizure is a great example of how our officers in Canada and around the world work closely with our law enforcement partners to share intelligence, prevent illicit drugs from entering Canada and protect our communities.
“I am extremely proud of our employees for their continued dedication to this important work.”
For the RCMP, Michael Duheme, deputy commissioner of federal policing, said the project involved the agency’s Transnational Serious and Organized Crime unit in Kitchener working with CBSA to seize the container.
“Through their joint efforts we’ve been able to disrupt the drug trade and secure charges,” said Duheme.
“I commend our members, the CBSA and other partners involved in this investigation for their excellent work.”
Purvis, who has also been addressing an impaired driving charge in Simcoe’s Ontario Court, was granted bail on Feb. 2, under an agreement that he will be strictly monitored with an electronic bracelet.
His case was addressed again on Thursday and will continue to move through the courts but the CBSA said an investigation is ongoing.
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