More than one tonne of illegal cannabis seized in the Greater Toronto Area over two months

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published March 12, 2026

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The Canada Border Services Agency said its officers, working with the RCMP Toronto Airport Detachment, seized 1,066 kilograms of illegal cannabis in the Greater Toronto Area between January 1 and February 28, 2026, in a case that points to continuing efforts to move cannabis from Canada to international destinations.

The agency said the seizures involved both travellers and commercial shipments headed to destinations including the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands. Among the cases it highlighted were 72 kilograms seized on January 9 at Toronto Pearson from a passenger bound for the UK, 61.5 kilograms seized on January 19 from another UK-bound passenger after a positive indication by a detector dog team, 224 kilograms seized on February 12 from a commercial shipment bound for Germany, and 7 kilograms seized on February 24 from a parcel destined for the Netherlands.

CBSA said the RCMP took custody of the seized cannabis and opened a criminal investigation to identify those responsible. The agency said cannabis smuggling supports organized crime and can contribute to other illegal activity, including drug and weapons trafficking.

Although cannabis is legal in Canada under limited conditions, importing or exporting it for non-medical or non-scientific purposes remains prohibited without authorization from Health Canada. CBSA said penalties can reach up to five years in prison under the Customs Act and up to 14 years under the Cannabis Act. The agency also said it seized more than 46,608 kilograms of illegal cannabis in 2025.