More than 1K kilos of illegal cannabis seized at Toronto Pearson, commercial shipments: CBSA

The Canada Border Services Agency say they seized more than 1,000 kilograms between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28 in the Greater Toronto Area. (CBSA)

The Canada Border Services Agency says it seized more than 1,000 kilograms of illegal cannabis from various Toronto Pearson travellers and commercial shipments destined for outside of the country.

In a news release on Thursday, border services said its officers in the GTA along withthe RCMP‘s Toronto Airport Detachment (TAD) recovered 1,066 kilograms of cannabis between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28.

There were two seizures at Pearson Airport in the month of January, the CBSA said.

In the first, on Jan. 9, CBSA said they seized 72 kilograms of cannabis from a passenger heading to the United Kingdom.

The second incident occurred 10 days later. Officers said they intercepted 61.5 kilograms of cannabis from another passenger bound for the U.K., after the CBSA’s detector dog team found it.

On Feb. 12, CBSA officers in Mississauga said they seized 224 kilograms of cannabis from a commercial shipment meant to go to Germany. Twelve days later, when CBSA officers were patrolling UPS facilities, they said they sized seven kilograms of cannabis in a package bound for the Netherlands.

A criminal investigation has been initiated by the RCMP TAD, but it is unclear at this time how many suspects are involved.

Although cannabis is legal in Canada, the Cannabis Act prohibits the import and export of cannabis for any other purpose.

“Cannabis smuggling supports organized crime and helps fund other illegal activities, such as narcotics and weapons smuggling,” officials said.

“Smuggling cannabis across the border is illegal. Consequences are serious, in Canada and abroad.”

Last year, the CBSA said it seized more than 46,600 kilograms of illegal cannabis.