Cocaine seized from shipment of Pineapples and Marihuana seized in Watermelon shipment

TORONTO, Jan. 25, 2012 /CNW/ - As the result of a multi-agency investigation, six (6) people were arrested in Canada for cocaine and marihuana related offences.  Warrants of arrest have been issued for further persons.  The agencies involved in these arrests are the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Drug Enforcement Sections from the Greater Toronto Area, New Brunswick and Windsor with assistance of the Canada Border Services Agency in the GTA, Southern Ontario and Atlantic regions.  Also numerous government agencies both in Canada and abroad participated in this investigation.

This investigation began when officers from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) seized a marine container concealing cocaine at a port in New Brunswick. The cocaine was located in hollowed out pineapples.  In total, nineteen (19) kgs of cocaine was seized from 80 pineapples scattered throughout the shipment. Initial inquiries linked a Toronto area address to the container.

Over a subsequent four month period, RCMP investigators identified the subjects involved in this criminal enterprise and further shipments of illicit drugs.

Further information was provided to CBSA officers at the Windsor port of entry who intercepted two (2) trucks, each containing 115 kg of marihuana, with the drugs located in the packaging surrounding shipments of watermelons.

Continued investigation by the RCMP identified that this group had ties co-conspirators in Jamaica, Guyana, Costa Rica and the USA.

"Drug dealers will stop at nothing to get their contraband into this country," stated Superintendent Rick Penney, RCMP GTA Drug Enforcement Commander. "It is through this type of inter-agency cooperation that we can thoroughly investigate and dismantle organized criminal groups."

"Our officers are Canada's first line of defence in seizing illegal drugs," said Goran Vragovic, Regional Director General, Greater Toronto Area Region, Canada Border Services Agency. "The result of this investigation demonstrates the value of cooperation with our enforcement partners."

The following people were arrested and will be charged with drug related offences:

Denise Sonia EDWARDS (AKA PILGRAM) - age 46 of Pickering, ON.
Dexter Emmanuel BOYCE - age 43 of Toronto, ON
Abdool Zaman HAKEEK - age 54 of Scarborough, ON
Linval Earl BROWN - age 52 of Pickering, ON
Roman Clint MCINNIS - age 42 of Keswick, ON
Lancelot HENRY - age 45 of St. Catharines, ON

Those arrested will appear on Wednesday January 25^th, 2012 at Old City Hall Courthouse in Toronto for bail hearings.

For further information:

Sgt. Michele Paradis RCMP Media Relations 905-405-3750 ex 238 (o) 416-302-0250 (c)

Vanessa Barrasa CBSA Media Relations 905-803-7962 (o)