CBSA uncovers 197 Kg of cocaine at Blue Water Bridge in one of the biggest border drug busts

CBSA officers at the Blue Water Bridge seized 197 kilograms of cocaine, valued at $24.6 million, from a commercial truck entering Canada. The driver, Onkar Kalsi, was arrested and faces charges of importation and possession for trafficking. This s...

TIL Creatives

CBSA seizes 197 kg of cocaine worth $24.6M at Blue Water Bridge in one of Canada’s largest drug busts of 2025

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers have intercepted a massive cocaine shipment worth $24.6 million at the Blue Water Bridge crossing in southwestern Ontario.Officials are calling it a “significant seizure.”

A commercial transport truck entering Canada from the United States was referred for a routine secondary inspection at the Point Edward port of entry on July 23. Upon examining the trailer, officers discovered seven large duffel bags containing tightly wrapped bricks of suspected cocaine.

The total weight of the narcotics seized was 197 kilograms, an amount that CBSA officials say could have fueled substantial organized crime activity on Canadian streets.


“This significant seizure highlights the critical role our border services officers play in disrupting the illegal flow of drugs into Canada,” said Michael Prosia, Regional Director General for CBSA Southern Ontario Region. “Their vigilance and our collaboration with the RCMP are protecting our communities every day.”

One Arrest and two charges


The driver of the truck, 29-year-old Onkar Kalsi of Caledon, Ontario, was immediately arrested and transferred into RCMP custody. He now faces two charges, importation of cocaine and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, both under Canada’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

ADVERTISEMENT
The charges are serious, and if convicted, Kalsi could face a mandatory minimum of two years and up to life in prison.

Part of a growing pattern


Nationally, CBSA data shows that from January 1 to July 10, 2025, over 1,164 kilograms of US-sourced cocaine were seized by officers, along with another 514 kilograms from other international sources.

Authorities emphasize that these busts aren’t just numbers, they represent real lives potentially affected. Cocaine trafficking fuels violence, addiction, and exploitation, and the frontline role played by CBSA officers continues to be a key deterrent.

Kalsi’s next court appearance has not yet been scheduled. The investigation remains ongoing, with CBSA and RCMP continuing to probe the network behind the attempted importation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Download
The Economic Times Business News App
for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App
for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
READ MORE
ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE:

LOGIN & CLAIM

50 TIMESPOINTS

More from our Partners

Loading next story
Business News › News › International › Canada News › CBSA uncovers 197 Kg of cocaine at Blue Water Bridge in one of the biggest border drug busts
Text Size:AAA
Success
This article has been saved

*

+