A recent traffic stop by RCMP at Westhawk Lake led to the largest marijuana seizure through a traffic stop in Canada since 2015.
On July 22, 2018, an RCMP officer on traffic patrol stopped a commercial semi-trailer on the Trans-Canada Highway at Westhawk Lake, Manitoba. The stop was initiated to conduct a regulatory inspection of the driver’s paperwork. These checks are done to ensure safety of commercial vehicles and their loads as commercial vehicles are involved in approximately 20% of road fatalities every year in Manitoba.
When the officer stopped this vehicle and checked the driver’s paperwork, several discrepancies were discovered. The load was then examined by several officers in order to try and resolve those discrepancies. When the officers opened the trailer, they found 925 pounds of vacuum-packaged marijuana as well as 75 pounds of cannabis shatter, oils, and edibles hidden among the legitimate load of food products.
RCMP report that the driver of the vehicle was arrested and the drugs along with the semi-trailer were seized. As a result of the arrest, 46-year-old Claudiu Huber of Agassiz, BC has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and trafficking a controlled substance. Huber has been released pending a future court date.
Police noted that the semi-trailer load originated in lower mainland, BC, and was destined for southern Ontario. The seizure was the largest marijuana seizure through a traffic stop in Canada since 2015.
