US officials seize 116 pounds of cocaine at Ambassador Bridge

Charles E. Ramirez, The Detroit News on Mar 24, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

DETROIT — More than 115 pounds of cocaine were seized last week on the U.S. side of the Ambassador Bridge, officials said.

Authorities said U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers on Friday selected an outbound commercial vehicle for examination at the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit.

Officers conducted a physical inspection of the truck and found three garbage bags of suspected narcotics concealed behind stacks of lumber, according to investigators.

The officers seized a total of 50 bricks of cocaine as well as the truck and trailer, officials said. Testing confirmed the seized substance to be cocaine.

They also said the truck's driver, a Canadian national, faces federal prosecution.

Authorities said Homeland Security Investigations is conducting a probe into the drug shipment.

"This is a testament to the quality of work performed by those who work tirelessly to combat transnational crime and stem the flow of dangerous drugs through our communities," Marty Raybon, director of U.S. CBP Field Operations in Detroit, said in a statement. "Border security is a team effort, and I applaud the outstanding work by our officers and our regional law enforcement partners."

Customs officials said more than 1,300 pounds of cocaine has been seized by the agency's officers at Michigan ports of entry last year.

The drug bust is the latest at one of the international crossings from Michigan into Canada.

Last week, Canadian officials said they seized more than 900 pounds of suspected cocaine in two recent incidents on their side of the Blue Water Bridge.

Last August, a Canadian man was charged in connection with 266 pounds of cocaine U.S. officials seized at the Blue Water Bridge.

And last February, U.S. federal officers seized almost 300 kilograms of cocaine worth $8.7 million from a Canadian trucker during a stop at the Ambassador Bridge.

_____