Halifax CBSA officers seize over 95 kg of opium

The CBSA seized over 95 kilograms of opium at the Port of Halifax in Nova Scotia.

On March 21, 2023, border services officers at the Halifax Container Examination Facility completed an examination of a shipping container.

Using detection tools, the examination revealed over 900 packages of suspected opium concealed within a single shipping container arriving from the United Arab Emirates. The total weight of the suspected narcotics was over 95 kilograms. After undergoing laboratory testing, the narcotics were confirmed to be opium.

This operation was led by the CBSA’s Halifax Container Examination Team which is responsible for examining high-risk containers and cargo arriving in Canada by sea via the Port of Halifax. A number of CBSA teams assisted with the operation, including the Waterfront Cargo Inspection Unit, Intelligence and Enforcement Operations, Detector Dog Services, Commercial Operations and Marine Operations.

The narcotics were transferred to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for further investigation. The CBSA and RCMP collaborate on investigations to prevent illegal drug smuggling.

In 2022, the CBSA seized over 6,100 kg of opium across the country. In February 2022, the CBSA announced the seizure of 96 kg of opium from shipping containers in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

In Canada, opium poppy and its derivatives are controlled under Schedule I of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). Any activity involving opium poppy and the opiates derived from these plants must follow the requirements set out in the CDSA and the Narcotic Control Regulations (NCR). Only licensed dealers under the NCR are allowed to import or export opium, with a valid permit.