An 18-year-old Winnipeg resident is facing drug trafficking charges after a significant seizure at Calgary International Airport. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers confiscated 30 kilograms of methamphetamine from Mariane Lee last month.

Lee's luggage was flagged for abnormalities during a routine search. As a result, she was removed from a flight that was scheduled to depart for Narita, Japan.

Shanon Scott, acting superintendent of the Calgary Police Service's criminal operations and intelligence division, emphasized the importance of cross-border cooperation in combating drug trafficking. "Drug trafficking is not confined by borders, and neither is our commitment to stopping it all," Scott stated. He added that collaboration with various partners is crucial to disrupting criminal networks that exploit communities.

Following Lee's arrest, the Integrated Border Enforcement Team initiated a criminal investigation. This team is a collaborative effort involving the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), CBSA, and Calgary Police Service.

Janalee Bell-Boychuk, regional director general for the CBSA's prairie region, praised the efforts of border services officers. "This seizure demonstrates the dedication and expertise of CBSA’s border services officers as they work to prevent illegal drugs from breaching our borders," she said. Bell-Boychuk also highlighted the importance of partnerships with the RCMP and Calgary Police Service in holding drug traffickers accountable.

Lee is scheduled to appear in court at the Alberta Court of Justice in Calgary on July 28.