Canada seizes over half‑tonne of opium at Tsawwassen border facility

Canada Border Services Agency officers intercepted 520.6 kg of opium hidden within a marine container at the Tsawwassen Container Examination Facility in British Columbia. The container, flagged for inspection on Jan. 14 after intelligence from the CBSA’s National Targeting Centre, Pacific Regional Intelligence Section and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, was examined with detector dogs and X‑ray imaging, revealing inconsistencies in ten of twenty paper rolls. A progressive examination confirmed the opium’s concealment.

The seizure, announced on June 23, highlights continued collaboration between Canadian and U.S. agencies. Nina Patel, CBSA’s director general for the Pacific Region, said, “Every kilogram of opium we intercept at the border is a kilogram that will not devastate a family or community.” Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree added, “This seizure of more than half a tonne of opium is the result of strong collaboration and ongoing intelligence sharing between CBSA and U.S. partners.”