Halifax Border Officers Seize Nearly 250 Kilograms of Cocaine Hidden in Flatbread

Border services officers seized almost 250 kilograms of cocaine concealed in flatbread inside a shipping container at a port in Halifax.

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers initiated an investigation on March 3 that led to the seizure of 1,178 illicit packages in a shipping container at the Africville Seasides Marine Container Examination Facility in Halifax, according to a May 7 press release.

The shipment, which originated in the Dominican Republic, was flagged by the agency’s National Targeting Centre.

Field tests revealed that the packages contained 248.7 kilograms of drugs wrapped in carbon paper that was hidden inside of flatbread, the statement says. Field tests later showed the substance to be suspected cocaine.

The importer, 58-year-old Quebec resident Peter Pompeo, was arrested and charged, as were two alleged associates: 35-year-old Taylor Bixby of Thorold, Ontario, and 33-year-old Zachary Daniel Ardizzi of Mississauga, Ontario.

The three men are facing multiple drug-related charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Criminal Code, including importing cocaine, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, and conspiracy to traffic cocaine.

The men are scheduled to appear in court on May 13 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket.

In the news release, the RCMP and the CBSA thanked the Canadian National Railway Police for assisting with the secure transport of the shipping container after its arrival in Halifax. They also thanked Health Canada for conducting forensic testing that confirmed the seized substance was cocaine.

The Halifax bust fits within broader federal law enforcement efforts. In 2024, the government launched its Border Plan, a $1.3 billion strategy aimed at strengthening border security, disrupting organized crime, and improving immigration system integrity.

The plan includes expanded detection technology at ports of entry, increased intelligence and surveillance tools, and stronger coordination between agencies such as the RCMP and the CBSA. It also focuses on targeting drug trafficking networks, including the interception of illegal drugs concealed in commercial shipments entering Canada through major ports.

“The Canada Border Services Agency is tackling global crime head-on, in close collaboration with our law enforcement partners. Our highly trained intelligence officers and frontline teams at Halifax’s Africville Seasides Marine Container Examination Facility are making a direct contribution to Canada’s safety and border security,” CBSA Regional Director General Dominic Mallette said.