Jury finds Quebec trucker guilty of smuggling $23M of cocaine across Blue Water Bridge

A Quebec truck driver is in jail awaiting his sentence after a Sarnia jury found him guilty Wednesday evening of smuggling 215 kilograms of cocaine worth up to $23 million into Canada over the Blue Water Bridge.

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Alain Pare was charged with importing cocaine and possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking linked to a Sept. 8, 2020 seizure on the Canadian side of the twin-span bridge connecting Michigan and the Sarnia area. Almost exactly four years later, Pare pleaded not guilty to both charges Sept. 9 in Sarnia’s Superior Court of Justice and a francophone jury was selected for a month-long French-only trial.

After hearing from about a dozen witnesses, including several Canada Border Services Agency officers and RCMP investigators, the jury was charged Wednesday and began deliberating at 2 pm They returned with their decision little more than four hours later: guilty on both counts.

Stephane Marinier, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada lawyer who prosecuted the case, was pleased with the outcome.

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“The CBSA and the RCMP did a good (job) identifying and investigating Mr. Paré. The convictions reflect their dedication and hard work, day in, day out, protecting our borders,” he said Thursday by email. “The jury undoubtedly came to a just verdict and the Crown is grateful for their work and patience during the course of this lengthy trial.”

At Marinier’s request, Superior Court Justice Michael Varpio, who oversaw the jury trial, revoked Pare’s lease Wednesday night. He’s in custody and a date for a sentencing hearing will be picked next week.

Marinier could not say Thursday what sentence he’ll be suggesting. Pare represented himself at trial. It’s unclear if he’ll continue to do so at the sentencing hearing or if he’ll hire a lawyer.

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During the past year in Sarnia, a Brantford man driving an SUV and a Brampton truck driver each were sentenced to 11 years in prison for smuggling between $3.5 million and $5 million worth of cocaine over the same bridge.

Marinier offered a brief recap of the evidence the jurors heard in French during the trial. After Pare drove an empty flatbed truck up to the Blue Water Bridge on Sept. 8, 2020, officers discovered the cocaine packaged in double-layered bricks stashed inside suitcases and duffel bags. The bags were hidden in storage areas around the tractor-trailer where routine items needed for driving a flatbed, such as wood blocks, normally were placed.

Sold at the gram level, 215 kilograms of cocaine would be worth $23 million, Marinier said.

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This trial was scheduled to start two other times during the past four years, but was halted after Pare parted ways with his lawyers. While representing himself, Pare did not testify or call any witnesses, Marinier confirmed.

The trial initially was scheduled to last four weeks, but spilled into a fifth as one day was lost last month so a jury could be chosen for a Sarnia homicide trial, which was canceled at the last minute, and the courts were closed Sept. 30 for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

A total of 16 francophone jurors from Sarnia-Lambton were chosen to hear the trial. Four were sent home later as only 12 can decide.

This is one of at least 17 major drug seizures on the Sarnia-area side of the Blue Water Bridge since 2019, with all but one linked to trucks. Six of the cases have now gone to trial.

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In addition to the two men sentenced to 11 years in prison, a Toronto trucker recently was found guilty after trial of smuggling $3.6 million of cocaine in 2022 and has a sentencing hearing coming up in December. But a 26-year-old truck driver with ties to Brampton and Quebec City recently was acquitted of all charges following his trial into an alleged $47-million drug bust that same year.

Earlier this year a Sarnia jury was deadlocked in a trucker charged with importing case and it will have to go to trial again next year.

Next up is the trial of a Brampton trucker, then 25, who was charged after officers seized suspected cocaine and heroin in 2022. It is scheduled to start in December.

One case never made it to trial. A Brampton trucker in his late 60s was cleared of all charges in an alleged $9.4-million seizure from 2022.

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