Canadian border officers seize $25M in cocaine at U.S. crossing near Sarnia

Canadian border officials say they've seized roughly $25 million in cocaine from a commercial truck that entered the country at the Blue Water Bridge near Sarnia, Ont.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said the truck arrived from the U.S. on July 23 and was pulled in for secondary inspection. 

"During an inspection of the trailer, border services officers found seven bags containing bricks of suspected cocaine," the CBSA said in a press release Thursday. "The total weight of the suspected narcotics was 197 kg, with an estimated street value of $24.6 million."

Border officials said they arrested a 29-year-old from Caledon, Ont., who has since been charged by the RCMP with importation of cocaine and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. 

Michael Prosia, head of the border agency's southern Ontario region, called the seizure "significant" and said it "highlights the critical role our border services officers play in disrupting the illegal flow of drugs into Canada." 

The CBSA said the investigation is ongoing. Between the start of this year and July 10, Canadian border officers "seized a total of 1,164 kg of cocaine originating from the United States, alongside 514 kg from other countries combined." 

The seizure comes amid heightened scrutiny of Canada's border security regime as U.S. President Donald Trump cites drug trafficking — specifically, fentanyl smuggling — as justification for widespread tariffs on Canadian goods. However, data shows the vast majority of fentanyl is brought into the U.S. at the southern border with Mexico, not the northern border with Canada.

Canadian officials have in recent months announced new legislation and funding to boost border security.