Canadian border security officers found a record amount of methamphetamine at the Coutts port of entry in Alberta on Christmas Day, according to a press release.
The border crossing is located on Highway 4, approximately 109 km southeast of Lethbridge.
Officers were going through a shipment when they discovered 228.14 kg of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $28.5 million.
The semi-truck transporting produce was referred for further inspection earlier.
The methamphetamine translates to 2.28 million individual dosages.
This is the largest amount of methamphetamine seized at a land border crossing on record across the country.
The semi driver was arrested and turned over to the Alberta RCMP with the evidence.
RCMP have since charged Amarpreet Singh Sandhu, 38, of Calgary after a thorough investigation.
Sandhu faces charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, including importation of a controlled substance contrary to Section 6(1) and possession for the purpose of trafficking, contrary to Section 5(2).
Sandhu was released from custody on Jan. 14 and is scheduled to appear at the Lethbridge Provincial Courthouse on Feb. 11.
“Seizing and effectively preventing this enormous amount of methamphetamine from reaching our streets will have a positive impact on the safety of all Alberta communities,” the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said in a press release.
“This seizure, arrest and subsequent charges were only made possible due to the close partnership the CBSA and RCMP have in monitoring and investigating cross-border smuggling of illicit drugs,” the CBSA added.
The previous record amount of methamphetamine seized at a land crossing border was approximately 200 kg. The methamphetamine was seized on Dec. 24, 2019 at the Ambassador Bridge port of entry in Windsor, Ontario.
