Trucker charged in 52-kg cocaine bust at Blue Water Bridge: officials

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Trucker charged in 52 kg cocaine bust at Blue Water Bridge

Another trucker – the fifth this year and at least the 13thth since 2021 – has been charged with trying to import millions of dollars in illegal drugs into Canada via the Blue Water Bridge, officials say.

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Officers checking a commercial truck sent for secondary examination at the international crossing found boxes containing 52 kilograms of suspected cocaine about two weeks ago, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and RCMP said in a joint statement Wednesday.

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No other details, including how much the suspected drugs were worth, were provided.

Manpreet Singh, 27, of Brampton, was charged with importing cocaine and possessing cocaine for trafficking, officials said. The charges are before the Sarnia courts, officials said.

“Border services officers. . . work in partnership with the RCMP to prevent illegal activity at the border and to keep Canadians safe from illegal drugs,” An Nguyen, a CBSA official from the region, said in the statement.

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“This is another example of the tremendous work being done by our agencies to keep illegal drugs from reaching the streets in our communities,” RCMP Supt. Rae Bolsterli added.

Trucks enter Canada from Michigan on the Blue Water Bridge near Sarnia. Photo by Paul Morden /The Observer

A dozen other truckers have been arrested at the Blue Water Bridge since March 2021 and accused of importing millions of dollars in illegal drugs into Canada. One recently was convicted of trying to smuggle $3.5 million of cocaine and sentenced to 11 years in prison; another recently was cleared of all charges in an alleged $9.4-million cocaine bust.

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@ObserverTerry

BLUE WATER BRIDGE DRUG BUSTS SINCE 2021

  • Dec. 4: Brampton trucker, 27, charged after officers found boxes containing 52 kilograms of suspected cocaine.
  • Aug. 3: Caledon trucker, 26, charged with importing methamphetamine. Case still before the courts.
  • July 8: Two men from Toronto and Ottawa charged with importing $6 million in cocaine and heroin. Case still before the courts.
  • April 11: 45.2 kg of suspected cocaine worth more than $2 million seized and Mississauga trucker, 30, charged and granted lease. Case still before the courts.
  • Dec. 14, 2022: 84 one-kilogram bricks of suspected cocaine worth $4 million seized and Caledon trucker charged. Case still before the courts.
  • Dec. 11, 2022: 89 bricks of suspected cocaine worth as much as $6 million seized and two Brampton truckers charged. Case still before the courts.
  • Oct. 17, 2022: 224 kg of cocaine worth about $9.4 million seized. A Brampton truck driver, 68, was charged, but recently cleared.
  • June 21, 2022: Suitcases holding 100 bricks of suspected cocaine found and Toronto trucker, 62, charged. Case still before the courts.
  • April 8, 2022: About 60 kg of suspected cocaine found and Brampton trucker, 25, charged. New charges linked to heroin added later. Case still before the courts.
  • Jan. 13, 2022: About 265 kg of suspected heroin, pink cocaine and methamphetamines seized and Quebec City trucker, 23, charged. Case still before the courts.
  • March 31, 2021: About 62 kg of suspected cocaine worth about $3.5 million found in two suitcases in a trailer. Brampton trucker, 25, convicted of importing at trial and sentenced to 11 years in prison.

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