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Camouflaged Smuggler Caught with $1.6 Million in Prescription Pills
A shocking case of prescription pill smuggling has come to light in Vermont, where a 21-year-old Quebec, Canada native has been charged with possessing with intent to distribute 182 pounds of Aprazolam, commonly known as Xanax, a schedule IV controlled substance.
According to a complaint filed by the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont, Cedrick Bourgault-Morin was caught by three United States Border Patrol agents on January 13, 2016, at approximately 1:00 am, in the village of North Troy, Vermont. The agents had received notification of suspicious activity on the railroad tracks leading from the international border.
When apprehended, Bourgault-Morin was found wearing white camouflage clothing, pulling a sled behind him loaded with a large object wrapped in white camouflage. The agents discovered a duffle bag on the sled containing approximately 300 vacuum-sealed plastic bags of pills, bearing markings consistent with those used to identify Xanax.
The 300 bags of pills weighed approximately 182 pounds, and have a value of approximately $1.6 million. If convicted, Bourgault-Morin faces a maximum of five years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Border Patrol Agent-in-Charge Fernando Beltran commended the agents for their continued vigilance in tracking criminals and seizing harmful drugs before they get into our communities.
United States Attorney Eric S. Miller also commended the investigative efforts of the United States Border Patrol. The case is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ophardt, with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont.
Key Facts
- State: Vermont
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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