A Toronto man has been arrested after nearly 50 kilograms of suspected cocaine was seized at the border in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

A tractor trailer hauling a load of plastic resin pellets was pulled over for secondary examination at the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge on November 19.

Canada Border Service Agency officers along with a detector dog team found 50 packages of suspected cocaine.

Officials say the drugs were concealed inside several cardboard boxes containing the plastic resin pellets.

“I am proud of our officers and our detector dog teams who are committed to stopping illegal activity at our borders and to protecting our communities,” said Neil Mooney, Director, Niagara District Operations, Southern Ontario Region, Canada Border Services Agency. “This seizure also illustrates our close working relationship with the RCMP to keep illicit drugs out of our country.”

The driver, 54-year-old Omari Kutaladze, was arrested and charged with importation of a controlled substance and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

He is scheduled to appear in a St. Catharines court on January 11.