Man charged in suspected heroin bust at Calgary airport

CTV Calgary: Massive heroin seizure at YYC A surprisingly heavy piece of luggage prompted CBSA officers to perform a successful drug search. Bill Marks explains.

CBSA and RCMP have charged a 44-year-old man in connection to a significant seizure at the Calgary International Airport and say he was trying to smuggle in 6.7 Kg of what is suspected to be heroin.

Last Friday, Rashid Abdulla Mussa, was returning to Canada from London and was referred for a more in-depth examination by CBSA officers.

The officers examined two hard-sided suitcases and found sophisticated false bottoms in them.

‘When empty the suitcases seemed excessively heavy. Officers X-rayed the bags which revealed an abnormal organic mass,” said Candace Lyle, Acting Director of Operations at Calgary International Airport. “They took a closer look and noticed the lining of one bag was slit. They cut into the lining which revealed a chunky, tan, powdery substance.”

Officers seized a total of about 6.7 Kg of suspected heroin and say 3.3 Kg was in one suitcase and 3.4 Kg was in the other.

"Officers noted the false bottoms and tops were made by using parts from identical bags and glued the factory linings over the narcotics," said Lyle.

Mussa and the suspected contraband were turned over to RCMP.

He is facing two counts under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act; importation of a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Mussa made his first court appearance on Monday and did not enter a plea to the charges.

He remains in police custody and RCMP has sent a sample of the substance to the lab for testing.

This was the largest narcotics seizure for the CBSA in the month of January and in 2013 CBSA officers at the airport confiscated almost 20 Kg of heroin.

RCMP say the investigation is ongoing and they are looking into where the suspected heroin originated from.