Canada's safety minister is praising B.C. Mounties and the Vancouver Police Department for their part in a $9 million drug bust that spanned two countries and involved multiple enforcement agencies.
Canada Border Services Agency officers first discovered 275 kilograms of cocaine and suspected methamphetamine while searching two 40-foot marine containers containing lawn ornaments and stone bricks from Mexico at the Port of Vancouver on Sept. 13.
"While examining the shipment, anomalies were detected in the stone bricks. Concealed within 238 of the 6000 bricks shipped were cellophane-wrapped packages. The contents of the packages tested positive for suspected cocaine," CBSA's Bernée Bolton said in a statement.
Four days later, border officials found more drugs concealed in stone bricks from a separate shipment of marine containers.
The combined packages concealed a total of 212 kilograms of suspected cocaine worth up to $8.5 million and 63 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine at a value of $1.3 million, the CBSA said.
The drugs were handed over to B.C. Mounties to investigate.
On Sept. 27, the RCMP's federal drug section and the Vancouver Police Emergency Response Team made five arrests during a rush hour raid in an industrial area of 75th Avenue in Vancouver. A sixth person was taken into custody at another location.
Vic Toews, Canada's Minister of Public Safety, said it was the "excellent cooperation" between law enforcement agencies that aided the seizure.
"Our government recognizes that the proceeds of illegal drugs finance organized crime in our streets and jeopardize the safety of our communities. We are committed to stopping the flow of suspected illegal drugs at our border, and ensuring they don't reach our streets."
Thirty-two-year-old Eduardo Sierra Gonzalez of Mexico, 51-year-old Francisco Javier Gomez of Vancouver and 42-year-old Jason Quinn Lawrence of Vancouver are facing charges of Conspiracy to Import Cocaine. Police say more charges are likely coming.
"The amount and value of drugs and cash in this investigation leaves little doubt that organized crime is involved," Const. Michael McLaughlin said.
