Overview
- The W5 report published in mid‑May revealed a scheme in which corrupt or complicit airport ground staff allegedly remove passenger baggage tags and attach them to suitcases filled with drugs bound for international destinations.
- The RCMP have confirmed six arrests of baggage and ramp workers at Toronto Pearson in connection with the cases, and investigators say the wider network remains under active investigation.
- At least 17 Canadian travellers have been implicated over the past year, with some detained or jailed overseas before being cleared when footage or other evidence showed the drug bags were not theirs.
- Journalists and victims found hidden Apple AirTags inside intercepted drug bags that let criminals track a suitcase’s exact location and retrieve it after landing, exploiting surveillance blind spots in cargo and ramp areas.
- Security experts and victims advise photographing bags and tags at check‑in, keeping receipts, using personal trackers or carry‑on when possible, and officials warn the revelations could prompt tighter access controls and further probes into airport insider risks.