Second truck caught smuggling marijuana over Peace Bridge in June, this time $5 million worth seized
Authorities in Buffalo, New York conducted a major marijuana seizure involving a truck coming to western New York from Canada on June 16, 2020.
The truck was traveling across Peace Bridge and contained more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana.
Officials say the driver claimed to be carrying just peat moss, instead they discovered 58 large boxes, or about $5 million worth of marijuana inside the truck.
The driver was identified as 30-year-old Gurpreet Singh.
Prior to this seizure, on June 5, 2020 a truck driver who was hauling goods between Canada and the US was arrested and charged with smuggling $2.5 million in marijuana at the same exact bridge.
U.S. Attorney James Kennedy, Jr., CBP Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly have addressed the seizures.
The seizures are a part of an ongoing string of incidents despite the border still being restricted to only essential travel.
According to Brophy, since travel restrictions went into place on March 21, 2020 the CBP officers in the Buffalo Field Office have made 286 seizures. These amount to over 8,700 lbs of narcotics.
Combined, the two seizures this month on Peace Bridge amount to 5,100 lbs of marijuana, worth over $7.5 million.
Both drivers were arrested under charges of possessing with intent to distribute and importation of marijuana.
Singh is scheduled to have a detention hearing on Wednesday. He faces a mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted, and a maximum of life in prison.