News

Giant cannabis seizure in New Brunswick by CBSA

Published on July 25, 2025 by Pat Bulmer

Photo: Contributed

Canada’s largest cannabis seizure since 2015 took place at the Port of Saint John, N.B.

The Canada Border Services Agency said the seizure took place on May 21.

CBSA officers, with assistance from CBSA intelligence officers from the Greater Toronto and Atlantic regions, examined a container destined for Scotland.

Officers uncovered more than 6,700 kilograms of suspected cannabis, valued at $49.6 million. The drugs were falsely declared on documentation provided to the CBSA and were concealed in nearly 400 boxes inside the container.

CBSA officers at the Container Examination Facility in Saint John are responsible for examining high-risk containers and cargo arriving and leaving Canada, the CBSA says.

The quantity seized in this shipment was three times more than the total amount of cannabis seized by the CBSA across Canada in 2024.

The cannabis and evidence were turned over to the New Brunswick RCMP for further investigation.

“This historic seizure is the result of a unified tactical plan and effective information-sharing among CBSA officers and our law enforcement partners,” said Dominic Mallette, Atlantic regional director general for the CBSA, in a news release.

And at Pearson airport near Toronto, baggage handlers attempted a luggage-tag switcheroo in a failed attempt to smuggle $147,000 worth of cannabis to France.

Two employees of Swissport Canada are accused of changing luggage tags so an unknowing traveller now appeared to own the suitcase containing 21 kg of illegal pot.

In late May, a French national arriving in Paris was detained on suspicion of importing cannabis from Canada. After further investigation, French authorities released the passenger without charges, and referred the case to RCMP at Toronto Airport, who uncovered the tag-switching scheme.

Police arrested two 50-something men, who each have more than 20 years of experience at Swissport. They are scheduled to appear in Brampton court on Aug. 6 and 8.

Swissport’s co-operation helped police nab their men, RCMP said.

“The RCMP Toronto Airport Detachment members have been actively investigating cases involving baggage tag switching in attempts to smuggle illegal drugs and contraband out of Canada,” said Insp. John McMath.