Travel restrictions between the United States and Canada due to COVID-19 have not stopped smugglers trying to bring illegal drugs over the border.

What You Need To Know

  • Narcotics seizures at WNY points of entry are up 4,000 percent since March 21 travel restrictions with Canada, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say
  • More than 3,300 pounds of marijuana was seized Saturday in the largest single bust the Port of Buffalo has had
  • 8,700 pounds of drugs have been seized overall in that period, worth approximately $20 million

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Buffalo field officers recorded the largest single seizure of narcotics at the Peace Bridge on Saturday.

Gurpreet Singh, 30, a citizen of India, was a arrested after CBP officers found more 3,300 pounds of marijuana hidden in a tractor-trailer load of peat moss.

He faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison if convicted on federal drug and smuggling charges.

"It's a pretty amazing and a pretty outstanding accomplishment for our officers," said Rose Brophy, CBP Buffalo director of field operations.

Just eight days before that bust, another truck was stopped with more than 1,800 pounds of pot.

Overall, there's been a 4,000 percent increase in drugs picked up by the Buffalo field office since March 21 compared to the same period last year, worth about $20 million, law enforcement officials said.

"Despite the current travel restrictions at our border, a criminal element has not curtailed their efforts to profit from illicit drug trafficking," said James P. Kennedy Jr., U.S. attorney for the Western District of New York.

With passenger traffic down more than 90 percent compared to the previous year, CBP officials say they can point more resources and officers on screening commercial vehicles entering the country.

"When they are able to start to focus in on something and they're looking trends and they're looking at working with our other law enforcement partners and they can hone in on things, they're able to hone in on these things as well," said Aaron Bowker, public affairs liaison with Customs and Border Protection. 

Kennedy says it is difficult to quantify if there's a higher demand for marijuana during the COVID-19 pandemic, but opioid abuse has been problematic in the same timeframe.

"We have seen at least with regards to other drugs increase in fatalities from drug use, so it's been very concerning and something we do our very best to interdict and prevent," Kennedy said.