Three charged in plot to smuggle 400kg of Ketamine into Canada

TORONTO, Jan. 13, 2012 /CNW/ - The RCMP's Greater Toronto Area Synthetic Drug Operations have charged three men for their role in smuggling 400 kgs of Ketamine into Canada through the Port of Montreal.

On December 19, 2011, officers with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in Montreal inspected a sea container destined for the Toronto area.   Concealed among other items in the container, CBSA officers discovered 400 kilograms of Ketamine. The investigation was turned over to the RCMP and the shipment was allowed to continue to Toronto.

On January 5, 2012, three males were arrested after they picked up the shipment of Ketamine from a commercial warehouse.  A fourth male was arrested on January 6, 2012. Subsequently three persons were charged with Conspiracy to Import and Importing a Controlled Substance into Canada.  They are:

1)     Kishor PATEL, a 50 year old Canadian Citizen from Niagara Falls, New York, USA

2)     Robert TORRES, a 40 year old Canadian Citizen from Toronto, Ontario

3)     Kawal KOHLI, a 64 year old Canadian Citizen from Toronto, Ontario

All three accused are scheduled to return to court on January the 13, 2012 at Brampton Court. The investigation is ongoing.

Ketamine is a rapid acting anesthetic drug used legally by veterinarians.  As an illicit drug, it is referred to as 'special K' or 'K' and is very dangerous.  If injected it can produce rapid loss of consciousness as well as intense and terrifying hallucinations and 'out of body' experiences.  There is an increasing trend where Ketamine is being used as an additive to already dangerous drugs such as Methamphetamine or other harmful synthetic 'designer drugs'.

Depending on the intended use, this amount of Ketamine is capable of producing between 1.6 and 4 million doses of illicit drugs.  If the shipment was not intercepted, it could have had a significant negative impact on the communities in the GTA and across Ontario.

"There is a disturbing demand for Ketamine amongst young persons in our country. Drug traffickers are quick to respond with illegal supplies of pure Ketamine. As well, it is not uncommon to find Ketamine in tablet concoctions with other synthetic drugs, such as Methamphetamine.  These are dangerous cocktails manufactured in makeshift labs hidden in our neighbourhoods.", said Sgt. Brent Hasey, RCMP Synthetic Drug Operations.  He added "For these reasons, we are working aggressively with our partners in the Canadian policing community and with our international partners to identify the sources and prosecute the offenders -- wherever they may be located."

"This seizure is an excellent example of the outstanding work done by our officers," said Alain Surprenant, CBSA Chief of Operations for the Marine and Rail Service of the St.Lawrence District. "Stopping smuggling of illegal drugs like this at our borders plays a big part in making our communities safer."

For photos please visit the following link and click on the associated news release:
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/on/news-nouvelles/index-eng.htm

For further information:

Sgt Richard Rollings	Media Relations
Media Relations Coordinator	Quebec Region
RCMP 'O' Division (Ontario)	Canada Border Services Agency
Office: [phone]	[phone]
Cell: [phone]