May 2, 2019 A Border Detector Dog alerted the CBSA Agent at the border crossing to a specific Semi-truck entering Canada through the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward, ON. This truck was pulled over for a secondary exam.
On May 2, 2019, during this exam, this truck was found to have on board 25.05 kilograms of methamphetamine in clear wrapped packages and also two envelopes that contained $126,000.00 USD.
Canada Border Services Agency used a large scale x-ray to scan the truck. CBSA and the RCMP, both from the Southern Ontario Region, seized the drugs, cash and arrested the truck driver, Branislay Barac, 42, who is a Canadian Resident living in Mississauga, ON.
He was charged with importing a controlled substance, possession for the purpose of trafficking drugs, possession of property in USD currency more than $5,000.00, possession of currency with the intent to conceal or convert those proceeds, failing to report to the CBSA Officer at the border the importation of currency greater than $10,000.00 which is contrary to the Proceeds of Crime aka Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act. Mr. Barac was demanded to appear in court on May 21, 2019 and the investigation is ongoing.
Smuggling any types of contraband – illegal drugs, into Canada or into the USA is against the law. Carrying/smuggling cash in the amount of $10,000.00 CDN or $5,000.00 USD or more is illegal. Both are arrestable offences. Both CBSA, RCMP and their K9 Officers as well, will find these drugs and cash.
Is taking this chance of being arrested, having your truck seized, your loss of being able to drive, losing your job and facing being a criminal who now will face prison time and what this will do to your life and to your family’s life, is this all worth the pay out at the end? Good people work hard for their money, houses, families; bad people end up in prison, your choice..my advice? Stay on the good side of the law, the benefits will far surpass those of the bad.
Dawn Truell,
President, Cross Border Services
