Canadian law enforcement authorities are now said to be working with their Trinidadian counterparts, after over CDN$4.3 million (TT$21.9m) in cocaine was found in a cargo container shipped from T&T to Canada’s Pearson International Airport last month.
The drugs, shipped on board one of the popular airlines that fly the route daily, was found hidden under a fake floor in the cargo container.
This latest find alerted Canadian authorities to a “massive” drug trafficking and arms ring operating between the two countries, prompting the collaboration.
According to a report from the Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA), on May 5 a shipping container was inspected by agents and a fake floor was discovered underneath the original flooring. Some 38 bricks of cocaine weighing more than 43 kilogrammes were recovered and handed over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
There was another drug bust at the same airport this week, where almost two kilogrammes of cocaine were found in another cargo container. The street value of that bust totalled CDN$200,000 but the origin of the shipment was not disclosed.
Speaking with the T&T Guardian under strict anonymity, a source at the Ministry of National Security yesterday confirmed they have been contacted by CBSA agents about May’s bust and admitted an intense and extensive investigation had been launched.
The source said that cargo operations at the Piarco International Airport are now being “closely monitored” and employees are being “scrutinised.”
“The investigation is a sensitive one with sole intent to go through it with a fine teeth comb, not missing anything in the operations and employees’ movements, their whereabouts, things they bring in and take out with them when they arrive at work, leave and return,” the National Security source said.
The drug finds occurred along the same time assault rifles, smaller arms and ammunition were found concealed in flour and dog food at the El Socorro Bond area of Piarco Air Services on May 31. Three AK47s, along with magazines for MAC 10s and 12s, as well as assorted ammunition and 5.6 mm calibre were found in three barrels shipped from Canada.
A 28-year-old woman, Hafeisha Dillon, was subsequently charged with importing 19 illegal firearms in a shipping barrel containing dog food and other foodstuff. She was granted $350,000 bail by a Port-of-Spain magistrate on June 5.
With respect to that incident, investigators told the T&T Guardian that although Dillon was charged with the offense, their investigation continues and in collaboration with Canadian authorities.
The police source confirmed that Interpol was contacted and given a Canadian residential address in Brampton, Ontario, for them to follow up on. However, it was not confirmed whether or not the people at the address were contacted. But a CBSA agent confirmed to the T&T Guardian yesterday that in such cases there is usually surveillance before any arrests are made.
Efforts to reach National Security Minister Edmund Dillon for comment yesterday were unsuccessful as calls to his phone went unanswered.
