Ontario Man Charged as Driver in International Drug Courier Scheme

Police in Waterloo Region arrested a 36-year-old Ontario resident accused of ferrying unwitting drug mules to airports as part of a criminal network.

Ontario Man Charged as Driver in International Drug Courier Scheme

A 36-year-old man from Ontario is facing trafficking charges after detectives linked him to an operation that allegedly duped young people into carrying narcotics abroad.

Waterloo Regional Police say Alexander Kwan transported would-be couriers as part of a ring exposed earlier this year by W5. Investigators carried out a raid at a Markham home on June 11 and apprehended Kwan the following week. He stands accused of two offences: possession with intent to traffic and possession with intent to export.

During a brief court appearance by video from Maplehurst Correctional Centre on Tuesday, Kwan confirmed his identity. His legal representative signalled plans to file for release on bail at a future date.

The case stems from an investigative report that detailed how a shadowy group — known among investigators as the "dot network" because its mastermind used a single punctuation mark as an online alias — lured applicants through bogus courier job postings. Recruits were assured the cargo was lawful.

Among those ensnared was a teenager from Cambridge, Ontario, who travelled to Hong Kong last autumn. Customs officers there discovered roughly 25 kilograms of cocaine concealed in her luggage. She has been imprisoned ever since, allowed just one brief monthly telephone conversation with relatives back home. A young man in his early twenties was similarly detained.

The teenager's mother expressed hope that Kwan's capture would bolster her daughter's claim of innocence and prompt Ottawa to press for her freedom. A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada stated the department knows about the matter and is extending consular support.

Source: CTV News

Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)