Montreal Authorities Seize Cargo, No Pax Arrested

Over 40 pounds of cocaine were seized Monday night at Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport after 38 bricks were found onboard a flight that originated in Porlamar, Venezuela and was en route to Ottawa.

The cocaine was discovered inside three food storage containers that had been lined with newspaper, authorities told the Canadian Press. Authorities wouldn't comment on which carrier the airliner belongs to.

No passengers were arrested in the incident -- which was described as a routine, random search.

"We made the examination based on risk assessment," said Canada Border Services Agency spokeswoman Nicole Barsalou. "We have a team that analyses many factors and they (then) select which aircraft they want to inspect."

It was unclear if the drugs were meant to be offloaded in Montreal or in Ottawa. Details of the case were withheld for several days while authorities investigated the matter.

The case has since been transferred to the RCMP's Airport Federal Investigation section -- and as of now, there are no suspects.

"It's brand new investigation that's been opened up and we're working on it," said Royal Canadian Mounted Police Spokesman Sylvain L'Heureux.

One thing's for certain: the seizure, with an estimated street value of $5 million, is the largest so far this year at Trudeau International. Last year, an estimated $38 million in illegal drugs were seized at the airport.

FMI: www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/qc/pro_ser/sec_nat_front_e.htm