Adedokun Waliyu 
Canadian border authorities at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport seized 17.6 kilograms of cocaine after inspecting luggage from a flight arriving from Rio Hato, Panama, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said on Wednesday.
Officers discovered 16 bricks of a white substance in a suitcase on the baggage carousel from a flight on April 4.
The CBSA said field tests confirmed the substance to be cocaine, with an estimated street value of approximately $2.2 million. The drugs were transferred to the RCMP, and an investigation is underway.
The seizure comes amid a rise in cocaine interceptions nationwide. In 2024, the CBSA said officers in the Quebec region seized 39.97 kg of cocaine across 60 incidents. Nationally, the CBSA said officers intercepted 4,589 kg of cocaine last year — a 156 per cent increase from 2023.
Suspicious cross-border activity can be reported through the CBSA Border Watch Line at 1-888-502-9060 or via its secure online form.
