The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced on 27 October 2025 that officers at the Coutts, Alberta port of entry intercepted 77 kg of cocaine hidden in a commercial truck cab on 25 September. The drugs have an estimated street value of $7 million.
The driver, 28-year-old Surj Singh Salaria of Calgary, faces multiple charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Customs Act. The Integrated Border Enforcement Team—a joint unit of CBSA, the RCMP and Calgary Police Service—continues to investigate potential links to cross-border trafficking networks.
Although not an immigration offence, the high-profile seizure highlights the increasing scrutiny on commercial freight operators and could lead to tighter inspection protocols at land crossings. Logistics companies should anticipate longer wait times and expanded secondary screening, especially for drivers on work permits.
For mobility managers overseeing intra-company transfers of truck drivers, the case underscores the importance of rigorous compliance training, including cargo-security protocols and awareness of criminal inadmissibility rules that can bar foreign drivers from entering Canada.
CBSA seized more than 3,200 kg of narcotics at land borders this year, a 12 % increase over 2024, as Ottawa invests in new X-ray scanners and canine teams to secure supply chains.
The driver, 28-year-old Surj Singh Salaria of Calgary, faces multiple charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Customs Act. The Integrated Border Enforcement Team—a joint unit of CBSA, the RCMP and Calgary Police Service—continues to investigate potential links to cross-border trafficking networks.
Although not an immigration offence, the high-profile seizure highlights the increasing scrutiny on commercial freight operators and could lead to tighter inspection protocols at land crossings. Logistics companies should anticipate longer wait times and expanded secondary screening, especially for drivers on work permits.
For mobility managers overseeing intra-company transfers of truck drivers, the case underscores the importance of rigorous compliance training, including cargo-security protocols and awareness of criminal inadmissibility rules that can bar foreign drivers from entering Canada.
CBSA seized more than 3,200 kg of narcotics at land borders this year, a 12 % increase over 2024, as Ottawa invests in new X-ray scanners and canine teams to secure supply chains.
