Vancouver-area border guards seize nearly 200 kilograms of opium hidden inside steel machinery, furniture

METRO VANCOUVER — Canada Border Services Agency says CBSA officers from the Metro Vancouver District have seized nearly 200 kilograms of opium concealed within inbound shipping containers.

On August 15, 2023, border services officers and a Detector Dog Service team at the Burnaby Container Examination Facility discovered 150 kilograms of opium concealed within the interior structure of a piece of steel machinery. The shipment was identified for examination by the National Targeting Centre, a 24/7 CBSA unit that is responsible for targeting analytics and pre-arrival risk assessments for all passengers and commercial goods entering Canada.

On August 28, 2023, border services officers and a Detector Dog Service team at the Tsawwassen Container Examination Facility seized another 46 kilograms of opium that was found inside a piece of furniture.

Both seizures have been referred to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in British Columbia for investigation.