Man accused of smuggling fentanyl into Canada makes court appearance

WATCH ABOVE: Kasimir Tyabji is scheduled to appear in court in Calgary on Monday, facing charges of importing a controlled substance. Sarah Offin reports.

CALGARY – A man accused of trying to smuggle fentanyl into Canada made a brief court appearance on Monday.

Kasimir Tyabji appeared at the Calgary Courts Centre via CCTV from the Calgary Remand Centre.

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A law student acting on behalf of Tyabji’s lawyer said they are working to schedule a bail review with the Queen’s Bench before his next court appearance on Sept. 16.

READ MORE: Fentanyl Fact Sheet – what it is and what it does

Tyabji is charged with one count of importing a controlled substance after powdered fentanyl was found inside a parcel on route from China to Calgary in July.

The investigation led Calgary police to issue a search warrant on a home in the 2400 block of 14 Street S.W., where 122 grams of fentanyl was seized with an estimated value of $348,000.

Fentanyl is a powerful painkiller said to be 40 times more toxic than heroin and 100 times more toxic than morphine.