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A vehicle turning onto the border crossing at the Rainbow Bridge 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 said an inspection uncovered 400 pounds of cannabis and more than $600,000 cash in his car.
Police said he was arrested and remained in custody in Ontario, Canada.
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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 more than $600,000 cash 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, was subject to an inspection because he did not have his passport with him, according to police.
Canadian border officials said that they found 181 kilograms, or about 399 pounds, of cannabis during the inspection that was valued from $269,775 to $539,552. They also found more than $600,000 cash in the vehicle, the news release said.
The drugs and the 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.
The police said the packaging looked like the sort of containers drug dealers or money launderers used, which led to them issuing charges against Toppenberg on suspicion of the possession and import of cannabis, and the possession of more than $5,000 knowing that all or parts of the proceeds were obtained by a crime.
Toppenberg appeared in an Ontario court on Monday and remained 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."
Tduck91 on June 7th, 2023 at 01:20 UTC »
I live on the US/Canada boarder near the blue water bridge which is a very busy crossing. They reconfigured the highway off ramps and exchanges that dumped you off i94 into town or took you to Canada. Well the problem is that previously you would take a left exit off the highway to town and stay on the highway to the bridge, now it's the exact opposite lol. This was long enough ago where tomtom and Garmin dash units were the norm so the maps were always outdated. So they had dozens of people daily end up on the bridge, no where to go other than to cross and come back. Lots of people got caught up for having things they shouldn't have since they were not intending to go to Canada. It's was a mess. I still don't get how people can blindly follow a gps, even today without considering it could be wrong.
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.
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