Skip to main content

Faron Blanchard, is charged with importing and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Faron Blanchard, 41, is charged with importing and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. He next returns to court June 3. Blanchard was arrested Feb. 27 after officers from the Canada Border Service Agency discovered 230 kilograms of cocaine in the cab of a transport truck entering Canada. It was the largest seizure of cocaine at a land border crossing in Canadian history. A court order preventing publication of evidence presented at Friday's day-long hearing was necessary to ensure a fair trial, Justice of the Peace Stewart Taylor said. Outside the courtroom, federal prosecutor Michael Robb said cocaine seizures are on the rise. Three significant seizures have been made at the bridge so far this year, and nine in the previous two years. Many involved commercial truckers carrying perishable produce from California. About 3,700 trucks cross the bridge daily and border officers can only conduct secondary inspections on about 35 of them. Because cross-border trade is the nation's economic lifeblood, officers are under pressure to prevent delays, Robb said. Secondary inspection techniques now include X-ray-like scans that can reveal hidden cargo, a technology that assisted in the Feb. 27 bust.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Steven Peter Hipwell, 32, was arrested by Cherng Talay Police on December 22 at 4.30 pm allegedly in possession of two bags of cocaine

Steven Peter Hipwell, 32, was arrested by Cherng Talay Police on December 22 at 4.30 pm allegedly in possession of two bags of cocaine totaling 0.6 and 0.7 grams. His arrest came in a sting operation involving another Englishman ,who had been arrested on drug charges by police in Patong days earlier.Police alleged that David Pet had been caught with cocaine on Nanai Road, and while being held he told police that Hipwell had sold him the drugs.Police then arranged a sting and raid on Hipwell's house, where David ''bought'' the cocaine while police waited outside.Police searched Hipwell's home. Officers said they found another small packet of cocaine in a money jar.Hipwell is being held in Phuket jail while the court considers bail.Both Pet and Hipwell were living and working in Phuket, police say

Canadians: Robert Michael Steinebach,Candice Maree Brayton

Robert Michael Steinebach and 24-year-old Candice Maree Brayton were arrested at the Brisbane International Airport yesterday after arriving on a flight from Hong Kong. It is alleged the pair were trying to import between six and 10 kilograms of cocaine which was found in the false bottom of a suitcase. Brayton appeared briefly in court this morning and was remanded in custody until a further committal mention hearing next month. Steinebach denies any involvement but his application for bail was refused to allow federal police more time to establish his connection to Brayton. He is due to again face court via video link on Thursday. Meanwhile, Northern Territory police have arrested two men at Darwin Airport for alleged drug possession. Police say an estimated 65 grams of cannabis was found in a 22-year-old man's bag as he tried to board a plane for Groote Eylandt yesterday. A 48-year-old man was found to have 35 grams of the drug hidden in his pockets on the same flight. The 22-ye...

Investigators believe Jaleeza Lobdell, 14-year-old died of a drug overdose

Jaleeza Lobdell had a history of drug abuse. An autopsy revealed cocaine. Investigators believe the 14-year-old died of a drug overdose. Lobdell's mother told police she'd gone out with her cousin and two men. The cousin was dropped off in Federal Way, but Jaleeza never showed up. Orchard workers found her charred remains a few months later. Detectives just identified the body using DNA from her mother, and now want to know who drove the teen's body so far away from where she was from to try to hide it.