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Manitoba

Cocaine worth $9M found in unclaimed suitcases at Winnipeg airport

Nearly75 kilograms ofcocaine was found intwo unclaimed suitcases at Winnipeg's international airport.

Largest-ever narcotics seizure at an airport in the Prairie region, border agency says

Stacks of brown packages believed to contain cocaine are piled on a table.
The packages of cocaine found in suitcases at Winnipeg's airport are seen in a photo supplied by the Canada Border Services Agency. (Submitted by the Canada Border Services Agency)

Nearly75 kilograms ofcocaine was found intwo unclaimed suitcases at Winnipeg's international airport earlier this month,the Canada Border Services Agency says.

The drugs, with an estimated street value of more than $9 million, came from a flight that originated outside of the country and arrived at the airport on Feb. 9, according to the CBSA.

After the suitcases were left unclaimed,border services officers examined them and found 60 individually wrapped packages of cocaine inside.

It is the largest narcotics seizure at an airport in the Prairie region (Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba), aTuesday CBSA news release said.

Aspokesperson for the agency said in an email thatofficers were performing an examination of the aircraft and baggage, "and these two suitcase were identified for further examination based on a multiplicity of indicators."

The spokesperson would not comment on what those indicators were.

The drugs have been transferred to the Manitoba RCMP, who are now leading the investigation.

RCMPhave refused to say where theflight originated, which they said is a questionto be answered by the CBSA.

The border services agencyhas said it will not share any further information.

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