Air Canada employees arrested in alleged Montreal airport drug smuggling operation

Two Air Canada employees have been arrested over an alleged cocaine and cannabis trafficking operation through Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, the RCMP said Wednesday.

The suspects worked in ground operations and had access to secure areas of the airport, according to investigators.

“They are alleged to have participated in a conspiracy to bring and move luggage through secure areas of the airport to facilitate the importation of cocaine and the exportation of cannabis,” the RCMP said.

RCMP Corporal Marie-Pierre Guertin told CTV News that cocaine was allegedly imported from Punta Cana, while cannabis was exported there.

“The way that the suspects worked, basically, is they switched tags of suitcases or luggage that is going to a certain destination to be able to transport the luggage containing the drugs,” Guertin said.

Police executed search warrants at two homes, a vehicle and the employees' Air Canada work base in Dorval on Wednesday.

Air Canada said it was “cooperating fully with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police” and had suspended both employees during the investigation.

The arrests follow a Canada Border Services Agency operation in May that intercepted 62.5 kilograms of cocaine hidden in backpacks on a flight from Punta Cana.

Another 56 kilograms of cannabis were seized during the investigation.

The RCMP said further arrests and charges could follow as investigators analyse the evidence.