Former Quebec customs officer pulls 11 years for cocaine smuggling

Former Quebec customs officer Stefanie McClelland has been sentenced to serve 11 years in prison for her part in a cocaine smuggling incident at the Lacolle border crossing three years ago. The 40-year-old was found guilty by a jury in May of illegal drug smuggling and breach of trust for letting 182 kilograms of cocaine through the border checkpoint in 2014.

In December 2014, the RCMP also arrested Gregory Singh, a 28-year-old man from Kirkland, and Ariane Desgroseilliers-Lafrance, a 24-year-old woman from Montreal. The three arrests came after authorities uncovered a preconceived plot to smuggle the cocaine across the border. Among the evidence against McClelland was a text message between her and the leader, informing him that she was posted at a designated NEXUS customs booth.

Seven minutes after she sent the text, a BMW pulled up and was let through after 36 seconds and no passport check.