OREANDA-NEWS. August 22, 2016. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to share a sample of enforcement highlights from Air Cargo Operations at the Vancouver International Airport from January to July 2016.

Since January, border services officers (BSOs) at Air Cargo Operations made 80 narcotic seizures, including approximately 12.7 kilograms of opium and 157.1 kilograms of marijuana. Here are a few notable seizures made so far this year:

  • On March 22, BSOs examined a shipment of decorative boxes each containing a prayer mat from Iraq. Concealed under a layer of fabric and plastic, BSOs discovered foam boards soaked in suspected opium and seized approximately 7.25 kilograms of the drug.
  • On April 7, BSOs inspected two packages declared as fresh mint from California. BSOs were suspicious of ice packs contained within the shipment after they noticed anomalies in x-ray images. Once opened, a crystalline substance was found that field-tested positive for methamphetamine. BSOs seized 50 packages of suspected methamphetamine weighing a total of 11.2 kilograms.
  • On April 28, during a routine outbound inspection, BSOs intercepted a geode on its way to New Zealand that contained one kilogram of methamphetamine. Upon initial inspection, the geode appeared to be an amethyst; however, the “stone” was partly covered in a rubber substance moulded to appear like a rock. BSOs dismantled the geode and seized 14 bags of methamphetamine.
  • On June 10, BSOs intercepted a package of protein powder destined for Taiwan. The shipment contained four bottles of protein powder which, upon closer inspection, appeared to be sealed shut with glue. Each bottle contained clear plastic bags of suspected marijuana totalling 1.07 kilograms. Days later, BSOs encountered another shipment bound for Taiwan, declared as soy powder. BSOs found four vacuum sealed bags totalling 1.09 kilograms of suspected marijuana.

CBSA officers play an essential role in intercepting illegal drugs at Canada's borders. These seizures are the result of CBSA officers' vigilance and expertise when conducting in-depth examinations of shipments in the cargo and courier stream at the Vancouver International Airport. Anyone with information about suspicious cross-border activity is encouraged to call the CBSA Border Watch toll-free line at 1-888-502-9060.