U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized more than 7 pounds of cannabis at the Massena Port of Entry on Sunday, March 21.
One 25-year-old, described as a “North American male”, was arrested following inspection of his vehicle.
The Massena Port of Entry, also called the Three Nations Crossing, passes through the Seaway International Bridge, connecting Ontario and New York, and passes through Akwesasne territory in Canada just south of Cornwall, Ontario. Akwesasne is a Mohawk Nation territory that straddles the intersection of the US and Canadian border.
US authorities say the driver was taken into custody and subsequently processed by CBP officers. After processing, the narcotics and driver were turned over to the New York State Police, where he will face felony charges for Criminal Possession of Marijuana.
Earlier this year, the US DEA say they tracked and seized 270kg of Canadian cananbis
The CBC reported that the DEA began its operation after obtaining information that “large amounts of marijuana” were being smuggled into the U.S. through Akwesasne, according to the affidavit filed by a DEA agent.
In January 2020, Akwesasne Mohawk police seized 282 pounds of cannabis that was on its way to the U.S, after tracking operations on the St. Lawrence River, which runs through Akwesasne and Mohawk territories and in between the US and Canada.
