Canada says Israel-bound cocaine shipment intercepted
Canada Border Services Agency says packages found in cargo at Halifax port; 11 suspects arrested in Tel Aviv
Canadian agents intercepted a shipment of cocaine bound for Israel, leading to the arrests of several suspects in Tel Aviv, authorities said Friday.
The Canada Border Services Agency said its officers found 4.76 kilograms (10.94 pounds) of cocaine in November during a search of a shipping container destined for Israel at the port of Halifax, in Nova Scotia.
“With the use of tools, an extensive physical examination of the 1,200 bags of vegetable charcoal lead to the discovery of 33 small concealed packages of cocaine,” the agency said in a statement.
It said due to the discovery, Israeli police arrested 11 suspects in Tel Aviv. There was no immediate confirmation of the arrests from the Israel Police.
On November 16, 2018, CBSA officers at the Port of Halifax discovered 4.76 kg of cocaine while searching a marine container en route to Israel. Check out the news release: https://t.co/xkGMrhrR3M pic.twitter.com/kcJdwGmnkB
— Border Services ATL (@CanBorderATL) January 18, 2019
The announcement comes over a week after charges were filed in Israel against nine suspects accused of running an international drug ring, in which security personnel working for the national El Al airline allegedly used their clearance to smuggle 150 kilograms of cocaine into the country through Ben Gurion International Airport.
The Times of Israel Community.