It's not for nothing that they call this place the “Great White North.”
Last week, two Canadian men were arrested for smuggling more than 1,100 pounds of cocaine, worth more than $40 million, across the border into Illinois.
Vanshpreet Singh, 27, and Manpreet Singh, 36, were in a Volvo semi when police stopped them for a search on Interstate 80 in Geneseo, about 250 miles west of Chicago. 1,146 pounds of cocaine was found inside the truck. This was announced by the Illinois State Police.
The arrests came days after President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose new 25 per cent tariffs on Canada unless the country cracks down on illegal immigration and drug smuggling.
“On January 20th, as one of the first of many executive orders, I signed all necessary documents to impose a 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada on all products imported into the United States. , we're going to do that stupid open border,” President Trump declared.
The president-elect said the tariffs “will remain in effect until we stop drugs, especially fentanyl, and all illegal aliens from invading our country!”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday and had what he described as a “great conversation.”
Police found “numerous indicators of criminal activity” leading to Friday's inspection, which resulted in a large quantity of cocaine valued at well over $40 million, police said.
Both men, both from Ontario, were each charged with class X felonies of trafficking in cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, and possession of cocaine.
Photos of the seizure shared by police show a huge brick pile of individually wrapped illegal drugs.
Both men are being held in the Henry County Jail awaiting their first court appearance.
Last year, U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border and 21,100 pounds at the Mexico border, according to the Associated Press.
Additionally, Border Patrol agents made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone, but only 23,721 at the Canadian border from October 2023 to September 2024.
Still, Canadian officials say they are willing to invest in border security.
Comes with post wire.
