OPIUM-LACED PICKLES PACK A WALLOP

Halifax customs officials uncovered a load of imported pickles with a
little extra crunch last month.

The seizure of 183 packages of opium concealed in tins of pickles bound for
Toronto from Iran were seized by customs inspectors from a container when
it arrived in the port of Halifax on Aug. 1.

Inspectors found the 21 kilograms of opium packed in blue-and-green latex
balloons, the same size and shape as the canned pickles.

X-rays revealed packages inside six of the cans, which were about the size
of gas cans. The narcotics were turned over to the RCMP. No charges have
been laid. Police estimate the find to be worth $1.1 million.

This is the fourth seizure of illegal drugs at the Halifax port in recent
months.