3 arrested in Canada-US cheese smuggling operation

CHARMAINE NORONHA

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian police have charged one current and one former police officer in a scheme to smuggle US$203,000 (CA$200,000) worth of cheese and other foods into Canada.

Niagara Regional Police said Friday that cheese and other foods were purchased in the U.S. and smuggled into Canada without declaring the items or paying duty.

The items were then prepared for distribution to restaurants in southern Ontario for an estimated profit of more than US$168,000 (CA$165,000).

Niagara police Const. Constable Scott Heron, 39, faces charges that include conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, smuggling and other violations of customs law. Heron was suspended from the police force in June.

Casey Langelaan, 48, a former member of the police force, and Bernie Pollino, 44, a resident of Fort Erie, Ontario, face the same charges.