A commercial transport truck driver will serve prison time for trying to smuggle drugs into Canada.

Gerry Crawley of New Brunswick has been sentenced to nine years in prison.

In March 2021, Crawley was caught attempting to smuggle 71.5 kilograms of cocaine into Canada at the Pacific Highway Commercial border crossing in Surrey, British Columbia.

A search of the truck by border services officers turned up 64 cocaine bricks with an estimated value of $3.5 million.

Crawley was found guilty of possession for the purpose of trafficking and Importing/exporting a controlled substance after an investigation by the Canada Border Services Agency and the Pacific Region.

He appeared in court on February 26, 2024, for sentencing.

From January 1 to October 31, 2023, the CBSA’s Pacific Region made 6,389 illegal narcotic seizures, including 7,900 kg of methamphetamine and 239 kg of cocaine.