Calgary man charged after $7 million worth of cocaine seized at Coutts border

A Calgary resident is facing multiple charges after border officers discovered nearly 77 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a commercial truck entering Canada at the Coutts port of entry. Officials estimate the drugs have a street value of about $7 million.

According to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), officers made the discovery during a secondary inspection of the vehicle, which was attempting to cross into Alberta from the United States. The driver was taken into custody at the scene.

The Integrated Border Enforcement Team – a joint operation involving the RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region, the CBSA, and the Calgary Police Service – launched a criminal investigation following the seizure.

Twenty-eight-year-old Surj Singh Salaria of Calgary has been charged with importation of a controlled substance, possession for the purpose of trafficking, and attempting to export controlled goods, under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Customs Act.

Authorities say the case highlights the ongoing cooperation between federal and local agencies to prevent the smuggling of illegal drugs across the Canada–U.S. border.