A Mexican prosecutor said Jan. 25 that the killing of two Canadians at a Caribbean coast resort last week was motivated by debts between gangs apparently involved in drug and weapons trafficking. The victims both had criminal records at home, one of them a known felon with a history of robbery, drug and weapons offences. A Canadian woman hospitalized after the attack has been unable to speak to investigators. [node:read-more:link]
Steve Shand, the Florida man charged in the human smuggling case that resulted in the deaths of four persons in Manitoba metres from the U.S. border last week is being released for custody, subject to strict conditions. U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Hildy Bowbeer said she believes these conditions will assure his appearance in court. Investigators believe the victims were part of a larger group of Indian migrants. [node:read-more:link]
The exposure deaths of four persons on the edge of Manitoba’s border with the U.S. this week after a van linked to the victims was intercepted in North Dakota has led to human smuggling charges being laid against a Florida man. [node:read-more:link]
Two Toronto men face and array of criminal charges after being caught trying to use a drone to smuggle drugs into a federal penitentiary. The Correctional Service of Canada estimates the institutional value of the seized contraband at $75,000. [node:read-more:link]
The Canada Border Services Agency led a multi-agency cross-border investigation that has resulted in one arrest in Canada and six arrested by U.S. Homeland Security. A sophisticated operation has been disrupted from smuggling firearms, drugs and currency across the Canada-U.S. border in the Cornwall area. Officers seized 555 kg of marijuana; $467,480 in Canadian funds; $3,000 in U.S. currency; three loaded handguns and magazines; and five vehicles. [node:read-more:link]
Canada Border Services Agency intercepted a truck with 228.14 kilograms of methamphetamine, worth an estimated $28.5 million, at the Alberta border. The truck was listed as hauling produce, deemed essential goods during COVID restrictions, but was referred for further inspection. The driver was arrested and the evidence turned over the Alberta RCMP. Charged with two counts pursuant to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Amarpreet Singh Sandhu, 38, of Calgary, is scheduled to appear in court on Feb 11 in Lethbridge. [node:read-more:link]
(2005) Marine shipments of hazardous chemical cargo may be attractive terrorist targets because of their large volume and inherent toxicity or flammability. The Maritime Transportation Security Act and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code give the U.S. Coast Guard far-ranging authority over the security of hazardous marine shipping. The agency has developed port security plans addressing how to deploy federal, state, and local resources to prevent terrorist attacks. [node:read-more:link]
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is buying a system to interfere with drones being used for smuggling across the Mexican border. The system evidently produces a three-kilometre “bubble” and drones entering the protected area can be taken over and landed. [node:read-more:link]
The United States will impose sanctions on whichever country buys oil from Iran’s oil or does business with its Islamic Revolutionary Guard. Sigal Mandelker, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, says there will be no exceptions. [node:read-more:link]
A Canadian trucker was arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle $6 million worth of cocaine into Ontario from Michigan. U.S. federal border officers made the discovery after pulling Jatinderpal Singh over for a sniffer dog inspection as he tried to cross the Ambassador Bridge from Detroit into Windsor early Saturday morning. [node:read-more:link]
The Canada Border Services Agency announced that a Montréal man has been sentenced to 12 months in prison and his trucking company Réno Réal Inc. has been fined $567,645 for attempting to smuggle tobacco into Canada. [node:read-more:link]
A telephone chat with the head of the National Rifle Association evidently has prompted President Donald Trump to back away from his professed support for improved background checks on gun buyers. Sources say NRA President Wayne Lapierre pointedly shot down the idea. [node:read-more:link]
The IRS alleges a Rochester man arranged transport of cut rag tobacco to warehouses on the U.S. side of Akwesasne for smuggling into Canada to make unlicensed cigarettes, according to the criminal complaint filed with the U.S. Federal Court in the Western District of New York. The man and seven people from Akwesasne are facing wire fraud and money laundering charges. [node:read-more:link]
Canada Border Services Agency officers at the Pigeon River and Rainy River ports of entry seized three undeclared firearms on Canada Day. [node:read-more:link]
The Canada Border Services Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced today that a seizure of heroin at the John C. Munroe Hamilton International Airport resulted in two arrests. [node:read-more:link]
