Two Toronto men arrested after 53 kgs of cocaine seized in Halifax

TORONTO – Two Toronto men have been arrested and charged with trying to import over 50 kilograms of cocaine.

Canadian Border Services agents found the cocaine on August 12 when they noticed anomalies in an X-ray scan of a marine container coming into the Port of Halifax from Panama.

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Further examination revealed 40 ‘bricks’ of cocaine weighing approximately 53.5 kilograms. The RCMP determined the cocaine was bound for Toronto.

RCMP officers executed three search warrants in Vaughan and arrested Richard Avanes, 42, and Salvatore Formusa, 57. Each is charged with conspiracy to import a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking a controlled substance.

In a press release issued Wednesday afternoon, RCMP Superintendent Rick Penney touted “excellent” collaborative efforts between various police forces that helped further the investigation.