Officers busted a criminal organization after finding hundreds of kilograms of cocaine stuffed inside bread.
The RCMP worked with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) after finding a large shipping container from the Dominican Republic docked in Halifax. Officials intercepted the shipment on March 3 after it was flagged by border agents.
According to the press release, officials used X-ray technology in Nova Scotia’s capital to detect 1,178 packages within the container. The group wrapped the drugs in carbon paper before putting them inside flatbread.
Further tests by officials showed that the substances are suspected to be cocaine, a total of 248.7 kilograms.
As a result, the RCMP was brought in, which led to multiple people being charged.
The importer, police say, is identified as Peter Pompeo, 58, of Montreal. The release notes that he is suspected to be working and “conspiring” with Taylor Bixby, 35 of Thorold, Ont., and Zachary Daniel Ardizzi, 33, of Mississauga, Ont., to import and traffic the cocaine.
The three suspects were detained and charged with:
- Importing a controlled substance included in Schedule I
- Conspiracy to import a controlled substance included in Schedule I
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking
- Conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance included in Schedule I
“The RCMP and the CBSA would like to thank Canadian National (CN) Railway Police for their assistance during the transportation of the shipping container after its arrival in Halifax, and Health Canada for providing comprehensive forensic testing to confirm that the suspected substance was cocaine,” the release concludes.
The accused are expected in an Ontario court on May 13.