QUEBEC- Air Canada (AC) employees have been arrested in connection with an alleged drug trafficking investigation involving Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL), according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The case involves alleged cocaine imports from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) and cannabis exports to Punta Cana.
The 2 suspects held various positions related to ground operations and allegedly used their access to secure airport areas to help move luggage connected to the operation.
Air Canada said the employees were suspended during the investigation and that it is cooperating fully with the RCMP.
RCMP Investigation Focuses on Airport Ground Operations
The arrests followed an investigation by the RCMP’s Airport and Federal Investigations Detachment into alleged drug trafficking through Montréal Airport.
On Wednesday morning, RCMP officers were executing search warrants at two residences and a vehicle in the Greater Montreal area. With Air Canada’s cooperation, investigators also searched the employees’ work base at the airline in Dorval.
According to the RCMP, the two suspects worked in ground operations and allegedly participated in a conspiracy to bring and move luggage through secure areas of the airport. Investigators said the activity was intended to facilitate the importation of cocaine and the exportation of cannabis.
As reported by CTV News, RCMP Corporal Marie-Pierre Guertin said the suspects had access to secure zones at the airport.
Their ability to handle luggage and move through the baggage system allegedly made it easier to place drugs in certain bags and move them through airport operations.
Alleged Baggage Tag Switching Scheme
The RCMP said the suspects allegedly switched the tags on suitcases or other luggage so bags could be sent toward specific destinations.
Investigators allege that this method helped transport luggage containing drugs through the airport system.
The suspected operation involved cocaine moving into Canada from Punta Cana and cannabis moving in the opposite direction.
Guertin said investigators could not yet determine how long the employees may have been involved in the alleged trafficking operation. She also said officials did not yet know how many countries were implicated or the monetary value of the alleged illegal goods.
The RCMP said those questions remain part of the ongoing investigation.
Cocaine Seized on Flight From Punta Cana
The arrests came after a Canada Border Services Agency operation in May resulted in the interception of 62.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed in backpacks carried on a flight from Punta Cana.
During the investigation, authorities also seized an additional 56 kilograms of cannabis.
The two seizures form part of the evidence being examined by investigators as they work to determine the full scope of the alleged trafficking operation.
The RCMP has not said how long the alleged scheme operated or whether other people were involved beyond the two employees who were arrested.
Air Canada Suspends 2 Employees
Air Canada confirmed that it had been informed about the investigation and the arrests of two employees.
The airline said it is cooperating fully with the RCMP and that the 2 employees have been suspended during the investigations.
Air Canada declined to provide further comment because the proceedings are ongoing and the company said it has obligations to protect employee privacy.
The airline’s statement confirms that the two employees were the subject of the investigation and had been removed from their duties while authorities continued their work.
Aéroports de Montréal, which operates Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, said it cooperates fully with the appropriate authorities whenever investigations are conducted.
ADM also said access to restricted airport areas is governed by strict requirements. These include screening and verification processes conducted by the appropriate authorities and employers, along with ongoing controls carried out by security partners.
Those partners include the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) and Airport Security.
ADM declined to provide additional details because the investigation remains ongoing.
Suspects Released Pending Further Proceedings
The RCMP said the two arrested individuals will be questioned and released pending further proceedings.
Authorities said analysis of the evidence collected during the investigation could lead to additional arrests and the laying of charges.
The RCMP has not disclosed the total number of people who may have been involved or the full value of the alleged drugs. Those details could become clearer as investigators analyze the evidence and continue questioning.
The two employees are facing allegations at this stage, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
