Baggage handlers charged after drug probe at Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga

Two baggage handlers who’ve worked at Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga for more than 20 years face charges after a drug smuggling investigation headed up by the Mounties determined luggage tags were allegedly switched in order to illegally transport $147,000 in cannabis to France.

RCMP officials said two employees of Swissport Canada Handling, a baggage handling company located at Canada’s biggest airport, were arrested on July 4 in the wake of the probe that looked into allegations of what police call “baggage tag switching.”

The investigation was set in motion in late May after a French national had arrived in Paris on board a flight that originated at Pearson, the RCMP said in a news release on Thursday.

The traveller was detained by French authorities on suspicion of importing 21 kilograms of cannabis (street value $147,000) from Canada after a baggage tag had been switched “so it looked as though the piece of luggage with the cannabis in it belonged to an unknowing traveller,” the Mounties added. 

After further investigation, French authorities released the passenger without charges and the case was then referred to the RCMP’s Toronto Pearson Airport detachment.

The RCMP determined the baggage tags were allegedly manipulated at Pearson “without the passenger’s consent.”

Police said baggage tag switching is when someone purposely changes the labels on bags at an airport. Each baggage tag tells airport machines where a bag should go and who it belongs to, they added.

Dugal Hearne, 51, of Woodbridge, and Edward Wynter, 56, of Brampton, are each charged with exporting cannabis, possession of cannabis for the purpose of export and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. 

They’ve been released on undertakings and are scheduled to appear in Brampton court in early August.

Hearne has been a Swissport employee for more than 25 years while Wynter has worked for the company for over 21 years, the RCMP said.

Police said Swissport Canada Handling fully cooperated with the investigation.

The RCMP at Pearson say they’ve been “actively investigating cases involving baggage tag switching” where attempts are made to smuggle illegal drugs and contraband out of Canada.

They urge travellers to always ensure proper tags are on their luggage while travelling by air.

“I cannot impress enough upon the public the importance of staying vigilant during all aspects of travel,” said Insp. John McMath, officer in charge of the RCMP’s Toronto Pearson Airport detachment. “The RCMP is committed to continuing our fight against organized crime groups targeting innocent members of the public regardless of their citizenship.”