Two Brampton Men Arrested for Importing Drugs
Published April 27, 2017 at 7:08 pm
Two Brampton men have been accused of conspiring with men from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to import cocaine from Colombia and Jamaica into Toronto.
Two Brampton men have been accused of conspiring with men from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to import cocaine from Colombia and Jamaica into Toronto.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) who were working in partnership with CBSA, the investigation has led to charges against Canada Border Services Officers stationed at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
It is alleged that between January 2016 and April 2017, Canada Border Service Officers Patrick Ruddy from Toronto and Brano Andrews from Barrie facilitated the importation of cocaine through Canada’s busiest airport.
The investigation also identified Roberto Leyva from Niagara Falls and Keith Hamid and Rennie Escoffrey from Brampton as being involved in the conspiracy to import cocaine with the Toronto Pearson International Airport as their destination point.
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“Serious and organized crime in Canada is a multi-faceted and borderless problem impacting all Canadians, directly or indirectly”, said Inspector Donna Streeter. “Through a variety of specialized programs and teams, the RCMP combats serious and organized crime by implementing intelligence-led police operations with the collaboration of domestic and international partners.”
The RCMP alleges this group was responsible for importing over 30 kilos of cocaine over a year and a half. On April 27, 2017, RCMP investigators arrested and charged the men with combinations of breach of trust, conspiracy to import a schedule I substance, and importation of a schedule I substance.
“All allegations of improper or illegal behaviour by CBSA employees are taken very seriously and we continue to fully cooperate with the RCMP, who is leading the investigation. These allegations in no way reflect upon the true professionalism, dedication and integrity displayed each and every day by our CBSA staff,” said Goran Vragovic, CBSA Regional Director General of the GTA.
The suspects attended a bail hearing on April 27 at the Brampton Court House.
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