CBSA seizure of 20 kg of suspected cocaine leads to arrests

TORONTO, March 16, 2015 /CNW/ - Royal Canadian Mounted Police & Canada Border Services Agency

Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Toronto Airport Detachment, have arrested two Greater Toronto Area residents for illegally importing approximately 20 kilograms of suspected cocaine.

The investigation commenced on March 5, 2015 when Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers at Toronto Pearson International Airport (TPIA), Commercial Operations District, intercepted a large quantity of suspected cocaine concealed in a shipment of plastic pieces, originating from Trinidad and Tobago.  CBSA officers contacted the RCMP about the shipment which led to a local investigation in order to identify the individuals responsible for illegally importing the suspected cocaine.

On March 10, 2015, RCMP investigators arrested two male suspects in Brampton, Ontario. Subsequent to the arrests, the RCMP executed search warrants where additional materials were seized to support the charges.

The RCMP charged the following individuals with offences relating to this investigation:

• Abraham AL ZAIM (m) (26) of Toronto; and,
• Jonathan GAFAR (m) (26) of Toronto.

Charges:

• Section 6(1) Importing drugs into Canada (Controlled Drugs and Substance Act);
• Section 5(2) and Possession for the purpose of trafficking (Controlled Drugs and Substance Act); and
• Section 465 (1)(c) Conspiracy (Criminal Code).

AL ZAIM and GAFAR were released on bail. Both will appear in Brampton Court on April 10, 2015.

The RCMP and the CBSA would like to acknowledge the assistance of York Regional Police, Toronto Police Service and Peel Regional Police during this investigation.

Law enforcement agencies work diligently to make our communities a safer place to live, however your assistance in remaining vigilant and informing us of any suspicious activities will help us be even more successful.

Quick Facts

• Over 12 million travellers were processed by the CBSA at the TPIA in 2014, making it Canada's busiest airport.
• In 2014, the CBSA in the Greater Toronto Area made 180 cocaine seizures totaling over 954 kg.
• If you have information about suspicious cross-border activity, please contact the CBSA Border Watch Toll-free Line at 1-888-502-9060.
• If you have information on suspicious or criminal activities please contact your local police, the Ontario RCMP at 1-800-387-0020 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Quotes

"The RCMP is determined to reduce the total harmful effects caused by organized crime by disrupting the supplies of illicit drugs. The result of this investigation demonstrates how the RCMP and its partner agencies work effectively together to keep illicit drugs out of our communities."

- Inspector Dean Dickson, Team Commander at the RCMP Toronto Airport Detachment for the GTA Serious & Organized Crime Section

"This cocaine seizure is yet another great example of CBSA's success in disrupting the narcotic smuggling trade, and is a credit to the many officers involved. Thank you to all the officers involved for keeping dangerous drugs from reaching the streets of our communities. I also want thank the RCMP, York Police Services, Toronto Police Service and Peel Regional Police on the success of this investigation. This success is a credit to our great partnership."

- Goran Vragovic, CBSA Regional Director General, Greater Toronto Area Region

Website:   RCMP in Ontario Twitter:      @RCMPONT Facebook:  RCMP.Ontario YouTube:  RCMPGRCPOLICE	Website: CBSA.GC.CA Twitter: @CanBorder Facebook: CanBorder YouTube: CanBorder.

SOURCE Royal Canadian Mounted Police

For further information: RCMP Media Relations, "O" Division (Ontario), Telephone: [phone]; CBSA Media Relations, Greater Toronto Area, Telephone: [phone]