Brantford man arrested after $198M worth of cocaine seized in New Brunswick

A Brantford man has been arrested in connection with the largest cocaine seizure from a marine shipping container in Atlantic Canada in three decades.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) say roughly $198 million worth of cocaine was seized following a “sophisticated drug smuggling investigation” that began in the fall of 2021.

The investigation was launched after CBSA Intelligence received information about exported shipments coming from Central America.

On Jan. 7, border services officers discovered more than 1.5 tonnes of cocaine concealed inside the cargo of a marine container on Jan. 7.

A search warrant was executed at a home on Mohawk St. in Brantford on Jan. 27 and six people were arrested at the scene.

Kyle Purvis, 34, was charged with importing a controlled substance into Canada and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

Police say the other five people were released with no charges.

Purvis was released under strict conditions, including electronic monitoring, according to police.

The investigation is ongoing.