English
Workers at a Vancouver business made a startling discovery last month after finding more than 328 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a routine t-shirt order. Vancouver Police confirmed on Tuesday that the seizure is the largest in the department’s history, with an estimated street value of $5.8 million.
Drugs Hidden in a T-Shirt Shipment
Employees at the Vancouver-based company found the cocaine while sorting through boxes of t-shirts they had ordered. The drugs were concealed among the merchandise. Staff immediately called police after making the discovery on July 21.
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Sergeant Travis Fraser addressed the find in a statement. “Obviously, the business was shocked by what it found,” Fraser said. “They called police right away and are in no way associated with the seized cocaine.” He added that the quantity of drugs, along with the stamps and packaging, clearly pointed to organized crime.
Shipment Traced Back to Honduras
Police traced the shipment to a cargo container that left Honduras on May 18. The vessel stopped in Jamaica on June 6 before arriving in Montreal on July 5. The cocaine eventually made its way to the Vancouver business without being intercepted.
Fraser suggested the drugs were never meant to reach the company. “We believe the cocaine was supposed to be removed prior to its arrival,” he said. “For some reason, it was not unloaded.” Investigators believe someone in the supply chain failed to extract the drugs before the shipment reached its destination.
Investigation Spans Multiple Countries
Vancouver Police are now working with law enforcement agencies in Canada, Honduras, Jamaica and the United States as the investigation continues. The cross-border nature of the case reflects the scale of the operation.
So far, police have not released any suspect information. However, authorities are asking anyone with relevant information to contact police. The 328.55-kilogram seizure marks a significant moment for Vancouver law enforcement and highlights the ongoing challenge of drug trafficking through legitimate commercial supply chains.
