Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigators recently discovered, hidden in marble tiles, 387 kilograms of opium valued at 8.5 million, in the Port of Montreal.
The federal police, who announced the seizure on their X feed earlier this week, did not specify when the drugs were seized.
In addition to the 387 kilograms of opium, the police also discovered, hidden in the same way, in the same merchandise, 85 kilograms of hashish valued at $850,000.
According to our information, a kilogram of opium sells for around $22,000 and a kilogram of hashish for around $10,000; the total value of the two drugs found in the marble slabs would therefore amount to nearly 9.5 million.
According to our information, the drug, which would have been intended for the Ontario market, came from Pakistan and the merchandise would have passed through several international ports before arriving in Montreal.
The ploy used by the exporters was sophisticated; they inserted one kilogram of opium per marble tile. This, which was relatively thick, was subsequently closed.
COURTESY PHOTO
Kilograms of opium and hashish, as found in the marble tiles.
According to our information, six individuals were arrested and questioned by investigators from Division C of the RCMP but they were released pending the continuation of the investigation which is being carried out in collaboration with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Quebec section.
Although significant, this opium seizure is not the largest ever made in Canada: on October 25, 2022, customs officers discovered 2,500 kilograms of opium in 19 maritime containers, in Vancouver, British Columbia.
To contact Daniel Renaud, call 514 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of The Press.