An investigation that began in December 2018 included Collingwood and Caledon OPP among others.

Police have seized 180 kg of meth hidden in spare tires of Ford vehicles shipped to Canada from Mexico. Contributed photo.

1 / 1 Police have seized 180 kg of meth hidden in spare tires of Ford vehicles shipped to Canada from Mexico. Contributed photo.

Ontario Provincial Police found 180 kilograms of meth in new Ford vehicles shipped to Canada from Mexico.

In a news release issued today, OPP said the investigation began in December 2018 when four Ontario Ford dealerships called police after discovering drugs hidden in the spare tires of the new Ford Fusions. The spare tires didn't match the make and model of the Fusion delivered.

OPP state there was a multi-jurisdictional investigation that included Collingwood OPP as well as Greater Sudbury Police Service and Caledon OPP. The investigation was led by the OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB), which worked with Ford Motor Company to find more drugs hidden in vehicles shipped to Quebec and New Brunswick. The shipments originated from Mexico.

The investigation team grew to include Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Sûreté du Québec, and Woodstock New Brunswick Police Force. Police then received more shipping information from the Ford Motor Company to locate and seize more illegal drugs and intercept a shipment at the Canadian Border.

OPP Deputy Commissioner Rick Barnum and Superintendent Bryan MacKillop held a news conference today to deliver the details.

Police in Canada do not know where or when the actual exploitation of the legal cargo occurred.

Collingwood OPP and the Collingwood Ford dealership, Hanna Motors, have not yet returned requests for comment. Police have not confirmed whether or not drugs were found in Fords sent to Collingwood.