Travellers charged after marijuana found hidden in luggage at Pearson Airport in Mississauga, Ontario

Two people are facing charges in separate incidents in which travellers tried to take large amounts of marijuana out of the country via Pearson Airport in Mississauga.

The RCMP said in a news release the larger of the two seizures occurred on July 25 when a 36-year-old woman was allegedly found to be concealing just over 23 kilograms, or 50 pounds, of cannabis inside her luggage.

Canada Border Services Agency officers detained the woman, a Canadian citizen, after discovering the hidden drugs.

On July 28, border officials stopped a 53-year-old man, described as a Canadian permanent resident, after finding nearly nine kilograms of marijuana inside his luggage.

Border officials seized the drugs while the RCMP made the arrests and charged two people.

Both are charged with possession for the purpose of exporting drugs. They’re scheduled to appear in court Sept. 5.

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RCMP Insp. John McMath said the recent drug seizures are an example of collaboration between federal law enforcement and border services officers as they work to intercept shipments of drugs at Canada’s biggest and busiest airport.

Canada Border Services Agency numbers show that between April and June of this year, 13,081 seizures of “inadmissible goods” have taken place at various locations across the country, including at Pearson Airport.

“Inadmissible goods” include a wide range of drugs, guns and other weapons, money, alcohol, tobacco, child pornography and jewelry.

During that same time period, nearly 5,700 kilograms (12,500 pounds) of cannabis products were seized, statistics show.