It is the largest quantity of cocaine seized from a marine shipping container in Atlantic Canada in three decades.
In early January, the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) seized more than 1.5 tonnes of cocaine at Port Saint John following a sophisticated drug-smuggling investigation.
“The narcotics were discovered concealed inside the cargo of a marine container; this represents the largest quantity of cocaine seized from a marine shipping container in Atlantic Canada in three decades. The CBSA has valued the seizure at approximately $198,000,000,” reads a release from the RCMP.
The operation began in the fall of 2021 when CBSA received information regarding exported shipments originating from Central America.
CBSA and RCMP worked together to move the investigation forward.
“In December 2021, CBSA began tracking a marine shipping container of interest which contained goods imported by a Greater Toronto Area (GTA) resident and exported from Central America, with a final destination of Saint John,” continues the release.
Then at the beginning of 2022, the shipping container was searched at Port Saint John, where officers found a significant amount of cocaine concealed inside.
Image from RCMP release
“On January 27, 2022, Ontario RCMP Federal Policing executed a search warrant in Brantford, ON, with assistance from the CBSA, Brantford Police Service, and several area municipal police services. Six people were arrested at the scene, five were released with no charges pending,” said the release.
The next day, 34-year-old Kyle Alexander Purvis appeared in court.
Purvis was charged with importing a controlled substance into Canada and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.
He was released under strict conditions, including electronic monitoring, pending a court appearance on March 3.
Officials said the investigation is ongoing.
