A CBSA opium seizure at Delta's Tsawwassen Container Examination Facility uncovered 520.6 kilograms of opium hidden inside industrial paper rolls. (Photos CBSA)
DELTA, British Columbia — A major CBSA opium seizure at the Port of Vancouver has led to the discovery of more than half a ton of opium concealed inside industrial paper rolls, according to Canadian border officials.
The Canada Border Services Agency announced Tuesday that officers seized 520.6 kilograms, or 1,147.73 pounds, of opium after examining a marine shipping container at the Tsawwassen Container Examination Facility in Delta.
“This seizure of more than half a tonne of opium is the result of strong collaboration and ongoing intelligence sharing between CBSA and U.S. partners,” Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said.
Border officers referred the container for inspection on Jan. 14 after receiving intelligence from the CBSA National Targeting Centre, Pacific Regional Intelligence Section and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Detector Dogs Helped Uncover the Opium
After the container arrived in Delta, a CBSA detector dog team searched the shipment and alerted officers to possible contraband.
As a result, officers conducted an X-ray examination of the container. The shipment contained 20 industrial-sized paper rolls.
The X-ray images revealed unusual inconsistencies inside several of the rolls.
Officers then performed a more detailed inspection. During that examination, they discovered opium hidden deep within 10 of the paper rolls.
The CBSA ultimately seized a total of 520.6 kilograms of opium.
CBSA Officials Praise Cross-Border Cooperation
Officials said the CBSA opium seizure highlights the importance of intelligence sharing between Canadian and U.S. law enforcement agencies.
“The CBSA is preventing opioid harm in our communities and is disrupting organized crime networks,” Anandasangaree said. “I want to commend everyone involved in this significant operation.”
Nina Patel, regional director general for the CBSA Pacific Region, also praised the officers involved.
“Every kilogram of opium we intercept at the border is a kilogram that will not devastate a family or community,” Patel said.
“This seizure is a testament to the skill, dedication and vigilance of the CBSA officers who protect us every single day.”
CBSA Narcotics Seizures Remain High
The agency reported that CBSA officers in British Columbia made 11,390 illegal narcotics seizures in 2025.
Those seizures included 329 kilograms of opioids.
In addition, CBSA detector dog teams carried out 29,486 searches during the year. Those searches resulted in 34,810 seizures involving drugs, firearms and currency.
The agency did not identify the origin or destination of the shipment. Officials also did not announce any arrests connected to the case.
Anyone with information about suspected criminal activity can contact local police, the RCMP at 1-800-387-0020 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
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