A Canadian man was sentenced to one year in jail after attempting to smuggle 31 kilograms of cannabis to London Heathrow

The investigation began on Oct. 28, 2024, when the Canada Border Services Agency intercepted a suitcase bound for London Heathrow at Vancouver International Airport. It contained 31 kilograms of cannabis. Alaaddin Koc, a 56-year-old from Windsor, Ont., was arrested and released pending further investigation, then charged under the Cannabis Act.

Federal Policing Pacific Region said Koc failed to appear in court, prompting a Canada-wide warrant for his arrest. He was later found in Ontario. Koc pleaded guilty this July to possession of cannabis for the purpose of exportation. In September, he was sentenced to one year in jail and given a lifetime firearms prohibition. Authorities announced the sentence on Monday.

The RCMP said Canada still has an “active illicit market” despite cannabis being legal. Staff Sgt. Rhonda Hislop said in a statement that the outbound flow of illicit drugs remains a focus for multiple international partners and a priority for the FPPR Border Integrity Program. She said ongoing support from the Canada Border Services Agency is critical to enforcement efforts.