Former Quebec customs officer sentenced to 11 years for cocaine smuggling

Former Quebec customs officer Stefanie McClelland has been sentenced to serve 11 years in prison for her part in a cocaine smuggling incident at the Lacolle border crossing three years ago.

The 40-year-old was found guilty by a jury in May of illegal drug smuggling and breach of trust for letting 182 kilograms of cocaine through the border checkpoint in 2014.

At her sentencing in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Tuesday, the judge told the single mother of four that he was struck by the large quantity of contraband, stored in the trunk of a vehicle that she let pass.

He said he did not believe McClelland's excuse that she was distracted, not even verifying the occupants' passports and failing to notice that the two people and the vehicle were flagged in the system.

No criminal record

Upon hearing the sentence, McClelland's father fell ill and was taken out of the court by paramedics.

In an exclusive interview with CBC News in 2014, her parents Edward and Carole McClelland said they had no doubt whatsoever that their daughter was innocent.

"She was totally destroyed, in handcuffs, and she was in tears, and she said, 'I don't know what's happening. I'm not involved in anything. I have no idea what's going on,'" said Edward McClelland.

• Parents of Lacolle border guard accused of drug smuggling speak out

Before her arrest by RCMP in December 2014, McClelland had worked for the Canada Border Services Agency for 13 years.

She had no previous criminal record and could be eligible for parole after serving one third of her sentence.

The judge noted that while McClelland was not held in custody for the duration of the trial, she had respected all the conditions of her release and even found a new job.

The case against her

In December 2014, the RCMP also arrested Gregory Singh, a 28-year-old man from Kirkland, and Ariane Desgroseilliers-Lafrance, a 24-year-old woman from Montreal.

The three arrests came after authorities uncovered a preconceived plot to smuggle the cocaine across the border.

Among the evidence against McClelland was a text message conversation between her and the presumed leader of a drug smuggling ring, informing him that she was posted at a designated NEXUS customs booth.

Seven minutes after she sent the text, a BMW pulled up and was let through after 36 seconds and no passport check.

At trial, McClelland said she realized her mistake after the car left but waited until the end of her shift to inform a supervisor.