$58,000 of suspected opium plants seized at Pacific Highway border
Nearly $60,000 worth of suspected opium plants were seized at the border earlier this month.
The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) said the incident occurred on August 12 at the Pacific Highway border, which connects Surrey and Blaine, Washington.
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Officers at the border pulled a commercial truck driver over for further inspection. After an X-ray and further inspection were performed, and seven boxes of “suspected dried opium poppy plants” were seized.
The boxes weighed a total of 29 kilograms and the CBSA says that the estimated value of the plants is $58,000.
Suspected opium seized at the Pacific Highway border. (CBSA)
Officers say they arrested the driver and turned them, along with the suspected plants, over to the RCMP’s Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit.
Suspected opium seized at the Pacific Highway border. (CBSA)
“Opium poppy is the source of all natural opioids, including doda, a highly-addictive street drug made from dried pods and husks,” says Daniela Evans, Director of Pacific Highway District, CBSA.
The driver has since been released pending further investigation.