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THE BAJA PST
NEWSROOM
SOURCE: PR NEWSWIRE
PHOTOGRAPH: Pixabay Tonyprats
Two employees of Swissport Canada Handling, a baggage handling company, were arrested following after a drug smuggling investigation that involved baggage tag switching that is someone purposely changed the labels on bags at an airport.
Each baggage tag tells airport machines where a bag should go and who it belongs to, in this case, the baggage tag was switched so it looked as though the piece of luggage with the cannabis in it belonged to an unknowing traveler
The investigation began in late May 2025 at Toronto Pearson International Airport, when a French national arrived in Paris and was detained by authorities on suspicion of importing Cannabis from Canada. After further investigation, French authorities released the passenger without charges, and the case was subsequently referred to the RCMP Toronto Airport Detachment.
The investigation revealed that the following subjects allegedly manipulated baggage tags without the passenger’s consent. This led to the illicit transportation of approximately 21 kilograms of Cannabis to France, with an estimated street value of 147 thousand dollars.
As a result, RCMP Central Region Toronto Airport Detachment Border Integrity Response Team arrested and charged the following individuals:
Dugal Hearne (51) of Woodbridge, Ontario, a Swissport employee with over 25 years, was charged with:
Exporting Cannabis – Section 11(1), Cannabis Act
Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Export – Section 11(2), Cannabis Act
Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence – Section 465(1), Criminal Code of Canada
Edward Wynter (56) of Brampton, Ontario, a Swissport employee with over 21 years, was charged with:
Exporting Cannabis – Section 11(1), Cannabis Act
Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Export – Section 11(2), Cannabis Act
Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence – Section 465(1), Criminal Code of Canada
Swissport Canada Handling was cooperative upon learning about this investigation, and their support contributed to the timely apprehension of the accused
Both accused have been released on undertakings and are scheduled to appear in court at the A. Grenville and William Davis Courthouse in Brampton on August 6 and August 8, 2025, respectively. The Border Integrity Response Team would like to recognize the contribution of French authorities, la PAF, for quickly identifying the victim in this case and referring the file to the RCMP in Toronto.
