Air fresheners lead to $1.5 million cocaine bust
Posted December 22, 2010 12:27 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS1130) – Air fresheners led border guards to a big cocaine bust at the Pacific Highway Border Crossing.
Constable Michael McLaughlin says a 44-year old Surrey man was driving the truck into Canada at the Pacific Highway border crossing in late November when a CBSA guard sent him for a second inspection. The Canada Border Services Agency became suspicious of a semi carrying a shipment declared as California raisins because of the overpowering scent of “pine tree” air fresheners. Agents searched the truck and found about 37 kilos of cocaine, worth $1.5 million.
McLaughlin says, “When there are ten air fresheners that are those pine tree versions and three more that are spray bottles, that is going to tip officers off. In this case, the smell being emanated was actually from acetone. Acetone is used to help cut cocaine and it can get pretty pungent.”
A man from Surrey could be charged with Importing a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking and Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking.
McLaughlin says there is little doubt that the drugs are tied to organized crime.
