Two Air Canada employees have been arrested in connection with cocaine and cannabis trafficking through the Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Wednesday morning, search warrants were being executed at two residences and a vehicle in the Greater Montreal area.
“With Air Canada’s cooperation, a search is also being conducted at the airline employees’ work base located in Dorval,” the RCMP noted.
The two suspects held various positions related to ground operations at Air Canada, according to an investigation conducted by the Airport and Federal Investigations Detachment.
“They are alleged to have participated in a conspiracy to bring and move luggage through secure areas of the airport to facilitate the importation of cocaine and the exportation of cannabis,” the RCMP explained.
RCMP Corporal Marie-Pierre Guertin told CTV News that the suspects had “access to secure zones.”
“Being able to handle the luggage and go through the system where all the luggage with the tags and all that, it did give them easier access to be able to get the drugs in certain luggage to be able to export them,” she said. “In this case...cocaine was imported from Punta Cana, and cannabis was exported to Punta Cana.”
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She was not able to say how long the employees may have been involved in the alleged drug trafficking operation, nor how many countries were implicated or the monetary value of the alleged illegal goods.
“As the investigation is still ongoing, those are some questions that we’re going to go look into, but for now I don’t have those answers,” Guertin said. “The way that the suspects worked, basically, is they switched tags of suitcases or luggage that is going to a certain destination to be able to transport the luggage containing the drugs.”
Cooperating fully
Air Canada confirmed that it was informed of “the investigation into two of its employees and their arrests.”
“We are cooperating fully with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,” it said. “The two employees in question have been suspended during investigations.”
The company stated that due to the ongoing proceedings “and our obligations to protect our employees’ privacy,” it would not comment further.
For its part, the Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) states that it “cooperates fully with the appropriate authorities whenever investigations are conducted.”
“It is important to note that access to the airport’s restricted areas is governed by strict requirements, including screening and verification processes conducted by the appropriate authorities and employers, as well as ongoing controls carried out by various security partners, including the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) and Airport Security,” it said. “Due to the ongoing investigation, we will not be providing any further comment.”
Backpacks from Punta Cana
The arrests come after a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) operation last May resulted in the interception of 62.5 kg of cocaine concealed in backpacks carried on a flight from Punta Cana.
Over the course of the investigation, an additional 56 kg of cannabis were also seized.
“The two individuals arrested will be questioned and released pending further proceedings,” the RCMP said. “Analysis of the evidence collected could lead to additional arrests and the laying of charges.”
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about illicit activities is encouraged to contact the RCMP at 514-939-8300 or 1-800-771-5401.
Alternatively, they can visit their local police station.
