Abbotsford – The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are committed to safeguarding our country and keeping illegal and dangerous drugs from reaching our communities.
On March 29, 2023, CBSA officers at the Abbotsford International Airport seized two kilograms of methamphetamine and one kilogram of cocaine from a Mexican traveller seeking entry to Canada from Puerto Vallarta. The drugs were discovered within the false side of a suitcase after border services officers noticed anomalies in the luggage. The traveller was arrested and taken into custody by the RCMP’s Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit. On November 27, 2023, Martha Alvarado-Lopez was sentenced to six years of imprisonment for the following charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act:
- Importation of a Controlled Substance contrary to section 6(1); and
- Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking, contrary to section 5(2).
“Border services officers are highly trained in detecting concealed contraband and are committed to protecting the integrity of Canada’s borders. This seizure and conviction demonstrate the important partnership between the CBSA and the RCMP as we work together to keep illegal and dangerous drugs from entering our communities.” – Nina Patel, Regional Director General, Pacific Region, Canada Border Services Agency