Two Air Canada workers charged in Montreal Airport cocaine, cannabis trafficking case

Airport workers arrested in drug trafficking at major Canadian hub as legal cannabis market reaches record sales.

The Cannabis Newz Automated Desk

Machine-written from our data · source: People.com

August 27, 2026 · 8:11 PM ET

Bales of seized cannabis stacked at a customs facility — file photo, not the scene of this story.

Two Air Canada employees were arrested on charges related to cocaine and cannabis trafficking at Montreal Airport, according to People.com. The arrests underscore persistent criminal activity in Canada's transportation hubs despite the country's legal cannabis framework.

The timing of the arrests coincides with robust growth in Canada's legal market. Recent data shows Canadian retail cannabis sales hit a record $500M+ in June 2026, and Canada has surpassed California as the world's largest cannabis market. Medicinal prescriptions have also risen 35% year-over-year, suggesting legal channels are capturing significant demand.

Watch whether law enforcement intensifies scrutiny at border and airport facilities as illicit operators attempt to exploit infrastructure vulnerabilities amid legal-market expansion. Related CRIME reporting has flagged other security incidents, including a cannabis facility fire near High River in August.

Original report: People.com ↗

Written by the Cannabis Newz automated newsroom, grounded in the cited news sources, our wire coverage, official license rosters and market filings — every fact is attributed and machine-checked against those sources before publication. Spotted an error? Tell us via your account page.