Vancouver police say employees at a legitimate business discovered 328.55 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated $5.8 million hidden in boxes of t-shirts and alerted police on July 21.
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Vancouver police say they have recovered what they describe as the largest cocaine seizure in the force’s history after workers at a legitimate business discovered drugs hidden among boxes of t-shirts ordered by a Vancouver-based company.
Police said the seizure involved 328.55 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of about $5.8 million. Sgt. Travis Fraser said the company’s staff found the drugs and called police immediately on July 21, adding that the business was shocked and was not associated with the seized cocaine.
Fraser said the quantity of drugs and the accompanying stamps and packaging indicate organized criminal involvement in the shipment. He said investigators believe the cocaine was intended to be removed before arriving at the business, but that “for some reason, it was not unloaded.”
Police said the cocaine traced back to a shipping container that left Honduras on May 18. The container was then stopped in Jamaica on June 6 before arriving in Montreal on July 5, according to police. After that, the shipment was ordered and later opened by employees at the Vancouver-based company.
Vancouver police said they are cooperating with authorities in Canada, Honduras, Jamaica and the United States as the investigation continues. Police did not provide information about any suspects, and asked anyone with information to contact police.
For Vancouver residents, the case underscores how illicit drugs can be concealed within legitimate commercial supply chains, and it highlights the role of employees and businesses in identifying suspicious shipments before the contraband can be distributed.
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