CBSA Cocaine Seizure Leads to Nine-Year Sentence for Drug Smuggler

Image credit, CBSA

Delta, British Columbia – In a significant victory against drug smuggling, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have secured a nine-year prison sentence for Gerry Crawley, a New Brunswick resident and commercial driver, who attempted to smuggle 71.5 kg of cocaine into Canada.

The sentencing comes after an intensive investigation by the CBSA and the Pacific Region RCMP Federal Policing Program. Crawley was found guilty of multiple offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, including Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking and Importing/Exporting a Controlled Substance.

Crawley’s illicit activities were uncovered on March 18, 2021, when he entered the Pacific Highway Commercial Operations in a tractor-trailer purportedly carrying personal care products from California. However, during a routine examination, astute border services officers discovered 64 individually wrapped bricks of suspected cocaine concealed within the vehicle. The total haul amounted to a staggering 71.5 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value exceeding $3.5 million.

Expressing satisfaction with the outcome, Nina Patel, Regional Director General of the Canada Border Services Agency, Pacific Region, emphasized the agency’s commitment to safeguarding Canada’s borders and holding perpetrators of drug-related crimes accountable. She underscored the crucial role played by such enforcement measures in protecting communities and curbing criminal activities.

Similarly, Superintendent Bert Ferreira, Officer in Charge of the Pacific Region RCMP Federal Policing – Border Integrity Program, hailed the joint efforts of law enforcement agencies. He highlighted the message sent by the nine-year prison sentence, signaling the uncompromising stance against individuals involved in the distribution of illicit drugs.

The successful conclusion of this case adds to the track record of the CBSA’s Pacific Region, which recorded 6,389 illegal narcotic seizures from January 1 to October 31, 2023. Notably, these seizures included substantial amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine.

The CBSA emphasized that smuggling narcotics and contravening the Customs Act could result in prosecution and, for foreign nationals, may lead to removal from Canada and a ban on returning. The agency urged anyone with information about suspicious cross-border activity to report it promptly.

The successful apprehension and sentencing of Gerry Crawley underscore the commitment of Canadian law enforcement agencies to combat drug smuggling and uphold the rule of law at the nation’s borders.