October 15, 09

NEWS / Canadian Truck Driver Arrested with $3 Million in Cocaine at Pacific Highway Crossing

Blaine, Wash. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a 43-year-old Surrey, British Columbia, man on October 10 for allegedly attempting to export 192 pounds of cocaine, worth more than $3 million.


Sukhvinder Shoker, a Canadian citizen, was originally en route to Canada driving a commercial shipment of household goods when he was encountered by CBP officers of the Blaine Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team working in concert with agents of the Border Enforcement Security Task Force at the Pacific Highway port of entry. A narcotic detector dog named “Mac” was used to search the truck and trailer and gave a positive alert to the presence of a narcotic odor.


During a detailed inspection of the trailer officers discovered a secret compartment concealing 24 cardboard boxes which contained a total of 76 bricks of an unknown substance which field tested positive for cocaine.


“Once again, today’s interdiction removes a considerable amount of cocaine from the reach of our youth and highlights our determination to protect communities throughout the Pacific northwest,” said Assistant Port Director Deborah Engels. “This demonstrates the importance of the CBP mission and why our officers take their duties so earnestly.”


On July 7, CBP officers arrested a 32-year-old Calgary, Alberta, man at the Peace Arch port of entry, Blaine, Washington for allegedly attempting to export 238 pounds of cocaine, worth more than $4 million.


Shoker was immediately taken into custody and turned over to agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation and prosecution.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/10132009_5.xml