Meth hidden in painting replaced with placebo in B.C. police plot to bust alleged smuggler
A Western Australian man has been charged after an international police investigation, which started in Canada, resulted in the seizure of several kilograms of methamphetamine hidden inside a painting.
In a news release on Monday, B.C. RCMP said the investigation began last month after Canada Border Services Agency officers inspected a package destined for Western Australia.
A white crystalline substance, which tested positive for methamphetamine, was found in three vacuum-sealed bags inside the frame of a painting, officers said.
The CBSA and RCMP combined forces with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and the Australian Federal Police to get the package back into circulation, putting a placebo in place of the drugs.
Australian police monitored the package as it was delivered to its destination in Embleton, Western Australia.
A search warrant was then executed with officers allegedly locating the placebo buried in the garden, while other parts of the painting were discarded behind bins.
In total, police say they seized 4.1 kilograms of meth and arrested a 38-year-old Embleton man on Oct. 28.
The man is now facing charges of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug contrary to the Australian Criminal Code.
“Collaboration between international partner agencies is becoming increasingly necessary due to the globalization of crime," Inspector Jillian Wellard, operations officer for the RCMP Major Projects team involved, said in the press release.
“This file speaks volumes to the exceptional working relationships between Canadian, Australian and U.S. law enforcement in the battle against cross border drug smuggling.”
According to Australian police, the amount of drugs seized could have bene sold on the street to approximately 41,000 people for a profit of $4 million.
A photo released by the B.C. RCMP shows a painting officers allege concealed methamphetamine.
A photo released by the B.C. RCMP shows officers what allege is methamphetamine hidden behind a painting.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Police cordon off Iran consulate in Paris where man threatens to blow himself up: French media
French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris on Friday, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Europe 1 radio and BFM TV.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.