OTTAWA: Canadian authorities have arrested several Indian-origin truck drivers during a crackdown on an alleged cross-border drug trafficking network, according to media reports.
According to a report by Indian broadcaster NDTV, Canadian authorities seized around 1.7 tonnes of illegal drugs worth an estimated $139 million during the operation targeting the suspected smuggling network.
The investigation reportedly uncovered links between individuals of Indian origin and an alleged illegal network operating through commercial transportation channels.
Canadian authorities have intensified efforts to curb the trafficking of illegal drugs across the country’s borders, with the latest operation highlighting the use of commercial transport networks in alleged cross-border smuggling activities.
Canadian expert Wade Desmond was quoted as describing the alleged Indian-origin network as a major criminal organisation involved in serious offences in different parts of the world.
The arrests and drug seizure are expected to draw further attention to international organised crime networks and the role of commercial transportation in facilitating illicit trafficking.
Canadian authorities have not, according to the report, indicated that every member of the Indian-origin community is connected to the alleged network; the arrests relate to specific suspects under investigation.
