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CBSA Seizes 197kg of Cocaine at Blue Water Bridge Crossing

Advanced canine screening paired with RCMP cooperation at Sarnia’s Blue Water Bridge secured the latest in a series of record cocaine interdictions concealed in commercial freight

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Photo of the cheese cans.
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Overview

  • On July 23, CBSA officers flagged a commercial truck arriving from the U.S. at the Blue Water Bridge and uncovered seven duffle bags holding 197 kilograms of suspected cocaine valued at CA$24.6 million.
  • The RCMP arrested 29-year-old Onkar Kalsi of Caledon, Ontario, charging him under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act with importation of cocaine and possession for the purpose of trafficking.
  • CBSA Regional Director General Michael Prosia called the seizure significant and emphasized how intelligence-led inspections disrupt organized trafficking networks.
  • Since January, Canada Border Services Agency agents have seized more than 1,678 kilograms of cocaine across northern land crossings, with commercial trucking routes identified as key exploitation points.
  • The investigation remains ongoing as authorities expand risk-based targeting and non-intrusive inspection tools to curb bulk narcotics smuggling via freight corridors.