A Ton and a Half of Weed Worth US$6 Million Seized in Cement Shipment at Peace Bridge

Article by Angela Stelmakowich, Growth Op

Customs officers at the Port of Buffalo say they thought something was off about a commercial shipment of cement from Canada, prompting a search which revealed multiple vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis.

The incident occurred on July 22 when officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Peace Bridge decided to have a closer look at a tractor-trailer driven by a Canadian citizen and coming from Canada.

After speaking with the 45-year-old operator, the vehicle was referred for secondary inspection, according to a CBP statement. During the physical inspection, officers found and later seized 2,959 pounds of weed from amidst 12 wooden pallet boxes manifested as articles of cement. The estimated street value is US$6 million.

The Canadian citizen, 45, “was refused entry into the U.S. and returned to Canada pending further investigation,” CBP reports.

Covering 16 ports of entry throughout New York, CBP’s Buffalo Field Office has seen a steep increase in drug seizures at the Canada/U.S. border since COVID-19 travel restrictions kicked into gear in March. From Mar. 21 through June 14, there were 286 drug seizures totalling more than 8,700 pounds of narcotics. Longer term, between Oct. 1, 2019 and July 23, 2020, officers saw 1,500 narcotic seizures amounting to more than 23,500 pounds.

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