CBSA officers intercept firearm and undeclared cash at Peace Bridge

Brent Jones
December 1, 2025 at 12:28 PM

Two significant arrests at the Peace Bridge were among the results of a 60-day border enforcement surge carried out this fall, according to a news release issued Friday by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

The agency released new details from Operation Meridian, a targeted initiative conducted across Southern Ontario that aimed to disrupt the flow of illicit narcotics, weapons, and contraband entering or leaving the country.

Operation Meridian, carried out over 60 days this fall by the Canada Border Services Agency, resulted in multiple arrests and 724 kilograms of narcotics seized. Credit: Canada Border Services Agency

Although most of the 724 kilograms of narcotics seized during the operation were collected at other ports, Fort Erie played a key role in two interceptions highlighted in the CBSA’s report.

Officers at the Peace Bridge arrested a 25-year-old Georgia resident earlier this fall after discovering a stolen firearm during a secondary examination. The individual was attempting to enter Canada and now faces multiple charges under the Customs Act and the Criminal Code.

A separate arrest at the Peace Bridge occurred on September 17, when officers stopped a traveller from New York State who failed to declare US$93,100. The currency was seized as proceeds of crime, and the individual was transferred to the RCMP to face charges under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorism Financing Act.

Border officers routinely intercept large sums of undeclared cash linked to organized criminal activity, and the CBSA says this case fits that pattern.

Operation Meridian was launched under Canada’s Border Plan and involved increased inspections of inbound and outbound commercial shipments, supported by intelligence from the CBSA’s National Targeting Centre.

The agency says approximately 90 per cent of all seizures during the operation involved attempts to smuggle goods into Canada. In addition to the seizures, five people were charged across Southern Ontario and 16 other investigations remain active.

In the news release, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree praised the “outstanding work on our frontlines” carried out by CBSA officers and law enforcement partners, calling the operation an example of the government’s commitment to protecting communities from organized crime.

The CBSA said surge operations like Meridian help generate new intelligence and reveal emerging smuggling trends, particularly at major land border crossings such as Fort Erie’s Peace Bridge.

Residents with information related to suspicious cross-border activity can contact the CBSA Border Watch Line at (888) 502-9060 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.