RCMP Alert: Unstamped Cannabis Seizure at Cornwall Border

Section 1: Community Safety Alert Overview

On April 25, 2026, officers from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) intercepted a vehicle entering Canada at the Cornwall port of entry in Ontario. During a detailed inspection, officers uncovered a substantial quantity of unstamped cannabis and cannabis vape products concealed within the vehicle. The case was turned over to the Cornwall Regional Task Force (CRTF), led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), for further investigation.

Five individuals, all Bangladeshi nationals residing in the Toronto area on valid work permits, were arrested without incident in connection with this seizure. They now face multiple charges under federal legislation related to the possession and intended distribution of unstamped cannabis products. One of the accused is also facing an additional criminal charge related to breaching a prior release order.

Section 2: Official Incident Details

According to the RCMP, the seizure at the Cornwall port of entry involved a significant quantity of illicit cannabis and related items. As part of the ongoing investigation, the CRTF reported the following items were seized from the vehicle and associated individuals:

• 32.3 kg of unstamped cannabis (estimated value: $142,418.62)
• 1,700 THC vape cartridges (1 g each) (estimated value: $34,000)
• Two packages of THC edibles totaling 1,100 mg
• $2,510 CAD in cash
• Seven cellular devices

The following five accused are Bangladeshi nationals currently living in the Toronto region on valid work permits. They were arrested and taken into custody in relation to this incident:

• Mostafizzur Rahman (31)
• Mashuk Iqbal (30)
• MD Ashraful Alam (30)
• Maher Afroz (25)
• Shurove Akter (28)

Each of the accused has been charged with the following offences:

• Possession of Unstamped Cannabis, contrary to section 158.11(1)(b) of the Excise Act, 2001
• Possession for the Purpose of Distribution, contrary to section 9(2) of the Cannabis Act

In addition, Mashuk Iqbal faces a separate charge of:

• Failing to Comply with a Release Order, contrary to section 145(5)(a) of the Criminal Code

Police state that at the time of his arrest in this case, he was already on judicial release for two similar offences in the Toronto area. He remains in custody. The RCMP notes that the investigation by the Cornwall Regional Task Force is ongoing.

The CRTF is a joint enforcement initiative composed of the Cornwall RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police, CBSA, and the Ontario Ministry of Finance, working in collaboration with United States partners to combat cross-border crime. For broader local context on crime trends in this area, residents can review the Cornwall, Ontario crime statistics and safety data as well as the dedicated Cornwall crime statistics and safety report on CrimeCanada.ca.

Section 3: CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective

From the perspective of CrimeCanada.ca, this incident highlights the continued risks posed by illicit cannabis and smuggling activities along key border crossings in Ontario. Even though cannabis is legal in Canada, only provincially authorized and properly stamped products are regulated for quality, potency, and taxation. Unstamped cannabis and unauthorized THC vape products move through criminal channels, can be mislabelled or contaminated, and often help finance broader organized crime.

Community safety is strengthened when residents stay informed about how illegal drugs enter local markets and recognize that large seizures like this one help reduce the flow of unregulated products into cities such as Cornwall and the wider Toronto region. CrimeCanada.ca encourages the public to report suspicious cross-border activity, unusual vehicle movements near border infrastructure, or information about unlicensed cannabis sales to local police or Crime Stoppers, where available. Vigilance, combined with accurate information about local crime patterns, is essential to building safer neighbourhoods and reducing the impact of smuggling-related crime across Ontario.

Official Source & Community Safety

This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the ontario community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.

Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.