During a routine traffic stop on Wednesday, two Quebec commercial vehicle enforcement officers intercepted a truck driver for driving while holding a handheld device. Because he had no papers for his cargo, the officers searched the vehicle, in which they found boxes filled with over 700,000 drug pills.
“We are very proud of our members. They kept hundreds of thousands of pills off the streets,” said Éric Labonté, president of the Fraternité des constables du contrôle routier du Québec (PSAC-FCCRQ).
According to the Montreal police that was called in for reinforcement, the seizure was substantial and happened thanks to the vigilance of our members. Without the intervention of the commercial vehicle enforcement officers, who are the only peace officers who have the power to inspect without a warrant, the drugs would never have been discovered before being sold – most likely to young people – on the streets.
“This was a routine operation that could have ended tragically for our members, because it involved millions of dollars worth of drugs,” said Natalie Rainville, PSAC-Quebec regional representative. “It’s another reminder of the important work done by commercial vehicle enforcement officers, who are the only peace officers in Quebec who can intercept vehicles without a warrant and, most importantly, handle this dangerous task while being unarmed.”
The PSAC-FCCRQ reiterates its message to the government of Québec: commercial vehicle enforcement officers need to carry service weapons. The government must review their job descriptions and re-evaluate them based on current competencies.