ON January 16, during a routine inspection at Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada Border Services Agency officers monitoring a baggage offload on a flight from Pakistan noticed one backpack that was heavy.

During further examination officers discovered six wrapped bricks inside the backpack. The bricks contained a substance that field testing proved positive for suspected heroin. The packages of suspected heroin weighed 17 kg and were turned over to the Peel Regional Police. The investigation is still ongoing.

“I want to congratulate the officers involved in this significant seizure of suspected heroin from Pakistan. Our officers are always on the lookout for illegal goods. CBSA officers will not tolerate the use of our international borders for smuggling illegal narcotics that are harmful to our communities,” said Goran Vragovic, Regional Director General of CBSA, Greater Toronto Area Region.

* In 2014, the CBSA in the Greater Toronto Area made 62 heroin seizures totaling over 149 kg.

* Over 12 million travellers were processed by the CBSA at TPIA in 2014, making it Canada’s busiest airport.

If you have witnessed or are aware of an incident involving suspicious cross-border activity, contact the CBSA Border Watch Toll-free Line at 1-888-502-9060.