The Canada Border Services Agency announced the seizure of more than 1.5 tons of suspected cocaine at a container inspection facility in Halifax.

The agency said it first became aware of a possible smuggling of a sea shipping container, which departed from California and was headed to Europe, on March 4, then the Canada Border Services Agency began tracking the container on its way to Canada.

A subsequent inspection of the container at the Halifax port on March 6 led to the seizure of 1,556 kilograms of cocaine inside the container, with the value of the seizure estimated at about 194 million dollars.

For her part, Julie Brooke, Acting Director of the Intelligence and Enforcement Operations Division at the Canada Border Services Agency for the Atlantic Region, said: "The Canada Border Services Agency works closely with law enforcement partners in Canada and abroad to exchange intelligence and seize harmful drugs."

She added: "Thanks to the swift and decisive action taken by the officers of the Canada Border Services Agency and our law enforcement partners, we seized 1.5 tons of cocaine."