Charges laid after $1.2M in drugs found inside luggage at Calgary airport: police

Calgary police say 60 kilograms of drugs were found inside luggage at the Calgary International Airport. (CPS handout)

Two men are facing charges after drugs were allegedly found inside luggage at the Calgary International Airport last week.

Calgary police say officers were called to the airport at 8 a.m. on Nov. 14 after Canadian Air Transport Security Authority officers opened four checked bags flagged during routine x-ray screening.

Screening officers discovered vacuum-sealed packages wrapped in blankets inside the luggage.

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“Subsequent testing by law enforcement confirmed the presence of drugs,” Calgary police said in a Thursday news release.

The contents of the suitcases, believed to be 60 kilograms of cannabis resin hashish, has an estimated street value of $1.2 million, according to police.

“Working with airport staff, we identified the luggage destination and reviewed CCTV footage to locate the suspects,” police said.

Two men were arrested without incident as they boarded a flight to Vancouver.

Police allege the suspects planned to travel to Sri Lanka using connecting flights.

Both men, a 27-year-old and a 34-year-old, were each charged with possession for the purpose of distributing and possession with intent to export.

They are scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 14.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call police at 403-266-1234.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers.