(WNY News Now) – Buffalo – A routine inspection at the Lewiston Bridge Port of Entry led to the arrest of a Canadian truck driver for alleged morphine smuggling.
Bashir Kasozi, a 41-year-old truck driver from Ontario, Canada, faces federal charges after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers allegedly found a substantial quantity of morphine hidden in his vehicle during an inspection at the Lewiston Bridge Port of Entry on August 23, 2024.
According to the criminal complaint, Kasozi, who had entered the U.S. three days earlier, was stopped during an outbound inspection as he attempted to cross back into Canada. Kasozi claimed he was transporting a load of paper from Massachusetts and denied having any contraband, including narcotics or large amounts of currency. However, a scan of his truck revealed an anomaly in the nose of the trailer, prompting a more thorough search. Officers discovered 62 packages concealed in the front wall of the trailer. Upon further inspection, the packages were found to contain vials of morphine, a controlled substance.
Kasozi was arrested on the spot and later appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Romer. He is being held pending a detention hearing scheduled for September 4, 2024. If convicted, Kasozi could face up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
This arrest resulted from a joint investigation by CBP, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy, and Homeland Security Investigations, led by Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino. The charges against Kasozi are accusations, and he remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Leave a Reply