A New Brunswick man who tried to smuggle cocaine into Canada with a load of personal-care products three years ago has been sentenced to nine years in prison.
According to a news released issued Thursday (April 4), border officers at the Pacific Highway crossing in South Surrey located 71.5 kilograms of the illicit substance on March 18, 2021, during examination of a northbound tractor-trailer en route from California.
The drugs – with an estimated value of more than $3.5 million – were packaged in individually wrapped bricks hidden within the vehicle, the release states.
Following an investigation, Gerry Crawley was found guilty of possession for the purpose of trafficking and importing/exporting a controlled substance.
His sentence was imposed on Feb. 26, 2024.
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Supt. Bert Ferreira, officer in charge of the Pacific Region RCMP Federal Policing-Border Integrity Program, said the case “is yet another example of our shared commitment to protecting Canadians from the serious threats posed by international criminal elements.”
“The 9-year prison sentence should also serve as a clear message to anyone involved in the distribution of illicit drugs, that our dedicated officers will relentlessly pursue them until they are brought to justice in the court of law,” Ferreira added.
The release adds that last year, from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, a total 6,389 illegal narcotic seizures were made in the CBSA’s Pacific Region, including 7,900kg of methamphetamine and 239kg of cocaine.