Six-tonne Afghanistan hash shipment disguised as chocolate drink intercepted en route to Canada
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| A close-up of the gold embossing stamp on each slab of pressed hash
from Afghanistan promises "Super Quality" |
TORONTO — The RCMP says a massive shipment of hvash, disguised as
“specially formulated” chocolate drink flavouring and hidden in
hollowed-out particle board before being shipped out of Afghanistan for
Toronto, likely would have seen profits returned to the troubled region
to fund militants if not for an international police effort.
Five men — four Canadians and a Dutch national — were arrested in
Toronto when they tried to pick up the 500 wood boards from the sea
container. Another man was arrested earlier in the Republic of
Tajikistan, where the load was first discovered before its wending,
international journey.
To the shock of the men in Canada, police say, most of the expected
cargo — 5.7 tonnes of hash, with an estimated street value of
$69-million— had not even made it out of Asia.
After the load was discovered in the mountainous country of
Tajikistan, one of the former Soviet republics that shares a border with
Afghanistan, local police contacted the RCMP, starting a complicated
international effort, said RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson.
Just 10 kilos of the drug, a sticky cannabis resin, were allowed to
continue on its journey by rail through a dozen countries before being
loaded onto a ship to Montreal where the sea container was loaded onto a
flatbed truck for the drive to Toronto, police said.
Once in Toronto, police monitored it until men came to collect it, police said.
“It was quite a logistical challenge,” said Comm. Paulson.
Adrian Humphreys / National Post
Each slab of pressed hash from Afghanistan was pressed into the
hollowed out press board, in background, with another board glued over top
to conceal them, police said
“Through strong national and international partnerships, the RCMP
continues to root out these criminal elements wherever they are located.
Organized crime compromises the safety and security of us all. By
disrupting their drug trade, the RCMP is reducing their capacity to
threaten communities’ health and well being.”
It likely would have been a threat to more than just Canada’
citizens, said RCMP Superintendent Rick Penney — a chunk of that money
would inevitably have been fed back to the Afghanistan source of the
hash, he said.
“We have soldiers over there fighting for liberty and freedom and the
profit from these crimes will end up back there,” said Supt. Penney.
The arrests in Canada occurred in October but officers kept it quiet
while its investigation continued. More arrests could come, Comm.
Paulson said, but none are imminent.
The RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency officials also announced a
separate seizure of 2,900-kilos of Gamma-Butyrolacton, an intoxicant
sometimes used as a precursor to make a date rape drug.
The GHL was seized at Toronto’s Pearson international airport on Jan.
25 after it arrived in air cargo hidden in a shipment from China
labelled “kitchen grease remover,” police said. Some of the drug had
leaked onto food supplies sharing the cargo container.
The oily liquid is enough to make about 4.8-million doses with an estimated street value of $48-million, police said.
Three Toronto-area men were arrested in that case.
Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, heralded the federal policing efforts.
“These arrests and seizures are welcome news for families and
communities across Canada. The production and trafficking of illicit
drugs is one of the root causes of violent crime,” Mr. Toews said.
National Post
RCMP
The slabs of hash were found pressed into cavities cut into
particle board, police said
Washington Time
Kabul Time
London Time
