DrugsOrganised Crime

Toronto Preclearance Seizes 40 Pounds of Marijuana on Second Miami-Bound Flight

U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted nearly 40 pounds of marijuana at the Toronto Preclearance Facility on January 26. It was the second significant drug seizure by Toronto Preclearance officials in just over a month.

CBP officers used non-intrusive inspection technology to identify 42 wrapped packages of marijuana concealed in the checked baggage of two travelers bound for Miami International Airport. The drugs weighed 39.04 pounds (17.71 kilograms) and had an estimated street value of more than $90,000 USD.

The travelers, two 25-year-old males, are both citizens of Canada. CBP referred the travelers to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), which placed them under arrest.

The seizure demonstrates the remarkable vigilance of CBP officers and the security benefits of Preclearance operations,” said Clint Lamm, Director of the CBP Preclearance Field Office. “This is the second large-scale drug seizure by CBP Preclearance in Toronto in as many months. It shows the great work being done by Preclearance in collaboration with our CBSA partners.”

The possession, production, distribution and sale of marijuana and the facilitation thereof remain illegal under U.S. federal law. Crossing the border or arriving at a U.S. port of entry in violation of this law may result in denied admission, seizure, fines and arrest.

Although the Government of Canada has legalized the possession of limited quantities of marijuana, taking marijuana across Canadian borders remains illegal.