GPS Mistake Led Driver With 400lbs of Drugs to Canada Border, Arrested

Authored by insider.com and submitted by darkmatter-n-shit
image for GPS Mistake Led Driver With 400lbs of Drugs to Canada Border, Arrested

Email icon An envelope. It indicates the ability to send an email.

Facebook Email icon An envelope. It indicates the ability to send an email. Email Twitter LinkedIn icon The word "in". LinkedIn

A vehicle turns onto the Rainbow Bridge border crossing in Niagara Falls, Ontario. GEOFF ROBINS/AFP via Getty Images

A 60-year-old American inputted the wrong GPS coordinates and ended up at the Canadian border.

Police say an inspection uncovered 400 pounds of cannabis and over $600,000 of cash in his car.

He has been arrested and remains in custody in Ontario, Canada.

Top editors give you the stories you want — delivered right to your inbox each weekday. By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy We are so sorry! We bumped into a system failure and couldn't take your email this time. Thanks for signing up!

A 60-year-old American driver was arrested last week after he took a wrong turn and ended up at the Canadian border with a huge quantity of cannabis and over $600,000 in his car, according to law enforcement authorities.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a news release that Andrew Lee Toppenberg was following GPS coordinates that were entered incorrectly when he mistakenly ended up in the border lineup at Canada's Rainbow Bridge border crossing in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Toppenberg, of Tustin, California, did not have his passport with him, which resulted in him being subject to an inspection, according to police.

During the inspection, Canadian border officials found 181 kilograms (399 pounds) of cannabis, which police said is valued at between $269,775 and $539,552 in US currency. They also found over $600,000 in the vehicle, the news release said.

The drugs and money were located throughout the car, with the cannabis in vacuum-packed containers and the cash separated into bundles that were concealed in a safe, suitcase, and lockable case, according to police.

Police said the packaging looked like the sort of containers drug dealers or money launderers would use, which led to them issuing charges against Toppenberg on suspicion of the possession and import of cannabis, and the possession of over $5,000 knowing that all or parts of the proceeds were obtained by a crime.

Toppenberg appeared in an Ontario court on Monday, and remains in custody, the news release said.

Jeff Walters, the director of Niagara District Operations for Canada's Border Services Agency, said in a statement: "The CBSA is extremely proud of the diligence shown by our officers. Their hard work has a profound impact on continually ensuring public safety at our borders."

Double_Lingonberry98 on June 7th, 2023 at 00:59 UTC »

If I were to haul 400 pounds of MJ and 600 grand, I would make sure to know the route.

SwagTheBagel on June 7th, 2023 at 00:33 UTC »

Hello, workers at Insider are on a ULP STRIKE! Do NOT click! Clicking this link is crossing our digital picket line; stand with us in demanding Insider stops breaking labor law and reach a fair contract. Thanks!!

PlasticMix8573 on June 6th, 2023 at 23:42 UTC »

It is easy to believe this guy was not the criminal mastermind in charge growing 400 pounds of pot or handling $600,000 in cash. How stupid do you have to be to ignore all the signs stating "International Border" only to get foiled by Canadian Customs due to not having a passport. SMH