(Toronto, Ontario, February 13, 2012) — Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Bob Paulson, Canada Border Services Agency President Luc Portelance and Commanding Officer of Ontario, Assistant Commissioner Stephen White today reiterated Canada's commitment to the fight against organized crime and the international illicit drug trade. Today, the two organizations outlined two significant international drug investigations that resulted in multi-tonne hashish seizure, a 2900 litre Gamma-Butyrolacton (GBL) seizure and numerous arrests.
The hashish investigation commenced in the summer of 2011 when the RCMP received a request for assistance from a local police agency in Eastern Europe. Its officers had located a shipping container containing 5.7 tonnes of hashish that originated in Afghanistan and was bound for Toronto. The RCMP led an international multi-jurisdictional investigation. The RCMP Greater Toronto Area Drug section arrested and charged five Toronto men with numerous drug importation offences. One additional male was charged in Europe.
The second seizure was intercepted on January 25, 2012 when CBSA at Pearson International Airport seized 2900 litres of Gamma-Butyrolacton (GBL) in the Air Cargo. The GBL was hidden inside a shipment of boxes each containing a 25 litre plastic drum labeled as kitchen grease remover. This seizure is enough precursor to produce approximately 4.8 million doses of the date-rape drug at an estimated street value of $48,000,000.00. The shipment on a flight from China, CBSA contacted the RCMP who initiated a criminal investigation. The RCMP Greater Toronto Area Drug section arrested and charged three men with numerous offences.
"Through strong national and international partnerships, the RCMP continues to root out these criminal elements wherever they are located", said Commissioner Bob Paulson. "Organized crime compromises the safety and security of us all. By disrupting their drug trade, the RCMP is reducing their capacity to threaten our communities' health and well being".
"Seizures of illegal drugs, like GBL, contribute to impeding the ability of criminals to operate within our borders. These operations are an excellent example of strategic coordination among all law enforcement agencies," said Luc Portelance, CBSA President. "They underscore what we achieve by working together in support of Canada's efforts to detect, reduce and prevent organized crime in our country."
These are just two of the many enforcement activities that Canadian authorities undertake everyday to ensure the safety and security of our country. Tackling serious and organized crime is one of the RCMP's primary strategic priorities.
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Contact:
Sgt. Richard Rollings,
Media Relations Officer
RCMP “O” Division
(519) 640-7302
(416) 992-4409
Antonella DiGirolamo
CBSA Media Relations, GTA
(905) 803-5366
