Ontario Man Jailed After Attempting to Fly Cannabis to London

An Ontario man has been sentenced to one year behind bars after federal authorities thwarted an international drug smuggling attempt at Vancouver International Airport.

The enforcement action originated in late October 2024, when Canada Border Services Agency officers intercepted 56-year-old Alaaddin Koc as he attempted to board a flight bound for London’s Heathrow Airport. A inspection of his luggage uncovered approximately 31 kilograms of illicit cannabis packaged inside a suitcase.

Members of the Federal Policing Pacific Region Border Integrity unit promptly took Koc into custody, though he was initially released while investigators finalized the case.

When Koc subsequently failed to appear for a scheduled court date under the Cannabis Act, law enforcement issued a nationwide warrant that eventually led to his apprehension in Ontario.

Koc formally entered a guilty plea to charges of possessing cannabis for the purpose of exportation. A judge sentenced him to a 12-month custodial sentence accompanied by a lifetime ban on possessing firearms.

Addressing the sentence, Staff Sergeant Rhonda Hislop emphasized that federal authorities remain heavily focused on cutting off the illegal outbound flow of regulated substances alongside international partners.

The RCMP extended appreciation to several assisting agencies, including the Richmond RCMP and Windsor local police units, for their coordination throughout the multi-jurisdictional investigation.