Customs nabs 'trusted traveler' with 255 pounds of drugs

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

************************** FAST driver stopped with drugs at the border PORT HURON, MI– U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from the Blue Water Bridge at Port Huron encountered an individual who was a member of the Free And Secure Trade (FAST) program attempting to smuggle drugs into the country.

The FAST program is one of CBP’s Trusted Traveler programs. The driver, Riaz Shaikh, a 39-year-old Canadian citizen, from Mississauga, Ontario, arrived at the bridge at approximately 2:35 a.m Monday and presented the paperwork for his cargo to CBP.

He told the inspecting officer that he had nothing to declare (alcohol, tobacco, etc.).

The officer selected the truck for an inspection and referred the driver to the cargo secondary area.

The scan by the gamma ray inspection device resulted in the discovery of an anomaly and the subsequent physical exam of the truck showed the anomaly to be eleven garbage bags containing substances that tested positive for marijuana (253 pounds), and hashish (two pounds). The driver was turned over to the Port Huron Police Department for further investigation and prosecution. "This driver had been entrusted, by his membership in the FAST program, with status as a low-risk traveler," stated Port Director David Dusellier. "He [allegedly] violated that trust and attempted to bring illegal drugs into our country. The officers involved used their observational skills and our available tools and technology to select this individual for further inspection.

"Their attention to detail prevented another shipment of narcotics from being sold in our cities and neighborhoods. Our officers continue to dedicate themselves to protect our community and our country at large by securing the border." Travelers who participate in the Free and Secure Trade program are afforded expedited processing when crossing the border.

As a participant in these registered travelers programs, these travelers are bestowed with a higher level of trust and confidence in regards to security when crossing the border.

Because of this higher level of trust, violations of this trust will not be tolerated.

Violations will result in prosecution of the violator to the fullest extent of the law. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the protection of our nation’s borders.

CBP unified customs, immigration, agriculture inspectors and the border patrol into one border agency for the United States. *************************