Three charged in large-scale cheese smuggling operation

Three men from Fort Erie, including two police officers, have been arrested and charged in connection with a cross-border cheese smuggling scheme.

Niagara Regional Police say the three were responsible for illegally bringing cases of cheese and other food goods into Canada without declaring them or paying duty and then distributing the items to restaurants in southern Ontario.

The investigation, which began back in January, involved officers from Niagara, the Department of Homeland Security and the Canada Border Services Agency.

Police say the operation was very profitable. Through the investigation they found more than $200,000 worth of cheese and other products were purchased in the United States, and were distributed for an estimated profit of $165,000.

Charged with a number of smuggling offences are Bernie Pollino, 44, Casey Langelaan, 48, and 39-year-old Scot Heron. Both Langelaan and Heron were suspended from the Niagara Police on June 26, 2012 while the investigation was underway. Langelaan is no longer a member of Niagara Regional Police Services.

Video: Melissa Raftis reports: