Mail bound for First Nations and northern hamlets accounts for two thirds of contraband shipments of drugs and drink intercepted by postal inspectors, records show. Indigenous leaders had pleaded with Parliament to keep legalized marijuana out of 'dry' reserves under the Indian Act..“Canada Post is committed to removing illicit drugs and other non-mailable items from the postal system through disruption activities across the country,” managers wrote in a submission to the House of Commons government operations committee..According to Blacklock's Reporter, the post office said mail inspectors last year uncovered 3,457 parcels containing contraband. “Out of the 3,457 items detected, 2,200 items were destined for Indigenous and northern communities,” the equivalent of 64%, it said..Seized contraband was worth $14.3 million. ”The illicit substances ranged from alcohol to illicit cannabis, opioids, ecstasy pills, methamphetamine and powder substances, etcetera,” wrote managers..The Canada Post Corporation Act forbids police from intercepting mail in transit. The Canada Border Services Agency cannot inspect mail under 30 grams..“Canada Post is committed to removing illicit drugs and other non-mailable items from the postal system through disruption activities across the country,” wrote managers. “With the overdose incidents of opioids across the country there is a greater need for Canada Post to ensure non-mailable matter is detected and removed.”.RCMP at 2018 hearings of the Senate public safety committee said drugs by mail worried police. “Narcotics trafficking by mail is certainly a growing problem,” testified Superintendent Yves Goupil. “It’s not just cannabis. Trafficking in fentanyl is a huge concern for us.”.The Indian Act allows First Nations to enact dry bylaws “prohibiting the sale, barter, supply, or manufacture of intoxicants on the reserve.” Indigenous leaders successfully lobbied to prohibit the local sale of marijuana even after Parliament legalized it in 2018..“It would not be a federal offence to possess cannabis in that community because the Cannabis Act has repealed that and made it people to possess it, but there are also other aspects of the law that also apply in banning it under certain ages and in certain circumstances,” then Public Safety Minister Bill Blair testified at 2018 hearings of the Senate aboriginal peoples committee..“Would the government actually take action if a community declared a ban?” asked Senator Scott Tannas (AB). “My understanding is the Minister of Justice has made it clear she does not intend to litigate on that issue,” replied Blair.
