37 kilograms of raw opium were secreted in 72 cans of expired tomato paste. And it was something of a needle in a haystack. The goods were concealed in one of 18 crates carrying 3,000 different types of food imported from Iran. Raw opium can be used to make heroin, and cops believe they've made a significant dent in keeping that drug from being made and hitting the streets. They allege the illicit substance was being sent to a newly formed company called MG Import Export.
The MG stands for Majid Goodarzi, the 43-year-old owner of the business.Cops say they followed him as he allegedly picked up the crates on Monday, tracking him to a commercial storage locker located in Thornhill. When he went back to the facility the next day, they claim they caught him opening the one crate that contained the drug. He was placed under arrest and is now facing a number of charges, including importing opium and possession for the purpose of trafficking. He made his first appearance in a Newmarket courtroom on Thursday.
