American Driver Caught with Cannabis, $600K at Rainbow Bridge Border Crossing

Monday, 5 June 2023 13:41

By Linda Morgan

Driver arrested for trying to enter Canada with 181 kg of cannabis and over $600,000 USD.

An American driver is facing charges after border officials found cannabis and over $600,000 cash in his car.

On May 2nd, a man was following GPS coordinates that not entered properly.

According to the RCMP, he took a wrong turn and ended up in the border line up at the Rainbow Bridge port of entry.

Since he didn't have a passport, he was referred for a secondary evaluation.

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) inspectors found 181 kg of cannabis and over $600,000 in U.S dollars.

The drugs are valued at $362,000 to $724,000 CAD).

CBSA officers arrested the man, and seized the money and the cannabis.

The case was then turned over to the RCMP.

Police say the cannabis was vacuum packed and separated into numerous boxes, which is common for drug dealers or money launderers.

The cash was also found separated into bundles and concealed in a safe, a suitcase and a pelican case.

Sixty year old Andrew Lee Toppenberg of Tustin, California, was charged with the following:

Possession of 181kg of cannabis for the purpose of distribution contrary to s.9(2) of the Cannabis Act;
Importing 181kg of cannabis contrary to s.11(1) of the Cannabis Act;
Possession of proceeds of property over five thousand dollars knowing that all or part of the proceeds of property was obtained by a crime in the United States of America contrary to s.354(1)(b) of the Criminal Code.

On May 5th, he was remanded into custody, where he remains.

His next court date has not been scheduled.

Share