Over $400K of Cocaine Concealed in Shoes Discovered at Pearson Airport

Canadian border officials have arrested a traveller arriving from Guyana after uncovering 3.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside pairs of shoes at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.

The interception occurred on May 26, 2025, when officers with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) flagged the individual during a routine screening process. According to authorities, the narcotics—hidden within multiple footwear items inside the traveller’s luggage—are estimated to carry a street value of approximately $437,000.

The unnamed suspect was promptly detained and handed over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), together with the seized drugs, pending further investigation and potential criminal charges.

CBSA representatives credit the success of the seizure to their deployment of advanced contraband detection methods. “The cocaine was found using contraband detection technology,” officials stated, emphasizing the use of ion mobility spectrometry, x-rays, and Narcotic Identification Kits. These tools, combined with officers’ training and expertise, play a critical role in the agency’s ongoing efforts to prevent illegal substances from entering Canada.

While the CBSA confirmed that the individual arrived aboard a flight from Guyana, officials declined to release the suspect's name or citizenship status, citing privacy laws. “An individual’s border and immigration information is considered private and protected by the Privacy Act,” a CBSA spokesperson explained.

This latest bust highlights ongoing concerns about drug trafficking through Canada’s busiest airport and underscores the vigilance of border agents working to keep illicit drugs out of the country.