Canada and Jamaica customs seize US$8 million cocaine in containers
BORDER security personnel foiled two substantial cocaine shipments within shipping containers at the ports of Vancouver and Kingston, Jamaica, weighing a total 320 kilogrammes and valued at more than US$8.2 million.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) discovered the cocaine hidden in the internal ceiling of a FEU reefer holding 25,000 kilogrammes of food following a mobile X-ray screening system.
A secondary screening detected "irregularities" within the refrigerated container's internal ceiling which when pulled back revealed 109 bricks weighing 130 kilogrammes of an unknown substance, reported the Vancouver Province daily.
Said the CBSA: "This seizure sends a clear message to those who seek to use Canada's borders for illegal activity: we will continue to be vigilant in preserving the integrity of our borders and ensuring the safety of our communities."
A further seizure more than 3,000 miles away, took place in Jamaica's Kingston Container Terminal of JMD300 million (US$800,000) street value for 19 parcels weighing 20 kilogrammes. The contraband was found within one rice bag in a shipping container during a routine search.
It is the second major seizure in 24 hours and the third within a week, reported the Kingston Gleaner. A few days before, 71 parcels of cocaine weighing 87 kilograms were found within a containership valued at $1.2 million.
Before this, contraband was uncovered in 10 travelling bags with several rectangular parcels containing 362 kilogrammes of cocaine with an estimated street value of $4.6 million.
BORDER security personnel foiled two substantial cocaine shipments within shipping containers at the ports of Vancouver and Kingston, Jamaica, weighing a total 320 kilogrammes and valued at more than US$8.2 million.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) discovered the cocaine hidden in the internal ceiling of a FEU reefer holding 25,000 kilogrammes of food following a mobile X-ray screening system.
A secondary screening detected "irregularities" within the refrigerated container's internal ceiling which when pulled back revealed 109 bricks weighing 130 kilogrammes of an unknown substance, reported the Vancouver Province daily.
Said the CBSA: "This seizure sends a clear message to those who seek to use Canada's borders for illegal activity: we will continue to be vigilant in preserving the integrity of our borders and ensuring the safety of our communities."
A further seizure more than 3,000 miles away, took place in Jamaica's Kingston Container Terminal of JMD300 million (US$800,000) street value for 19 parcels weighing 20 kilogrammes. The contraband was found within one rice bag in a shipping container during a routine search.
It is the second major seizure in 24 hours and the third within a week, reported the Kingston Gleaner. A few days before, 71 parcels of cocaine weighing 87 kilograms were found within a containership valued at $1.2 million.
Before this, contraband was uncovered in 10 travelling bags with several rectangular parcels containing 362 kilogrammes of cocaine with an estimated street value of $4.6 million.