“Quite simply not credible”: guilty of having imported 7 kg of heroin from South Africa after a paid trip

A septuagenarian from North-du-Québec was found guilty of having imported 7 kg of heroin on her return from a trip paid to South Africa, even if he juised that he was unaware of the presence of drugs in his suitcase.

• Read also: A trip to South Africa won on the internet would have led a septuagenarian from Chapais to import 7 kg of heroin

“The proof reveals that the accused deliberately maintained himself in a state of ignorance as to the presence of the drug he was carrying upon his arrival in Montreal. In addition, ” said Judge of Champlain on Friday at the Montreal courthouse.

The magistrate considers that the version of the story delivered by Maurice Nadeau “is simply not credible”.

It is completely riddled with “improbables”, “inconsistencies” and “evasive responses”, he continued.

Before his “quite simply not credible”: guilty arrest at Montreal-Trudeau airport in May 2022. Nevertheless, the 71-year-old man said he had been contacted on the WhatsApp messaging platform by an individual he had never met.

The man nicknamed “James Lewis” would have told him that he had won a week -long trip to South Africa. However, all expenses paid.

However, there is “no mention” of such a competition in their exchanges, according to the court.

Heroin was found in packets hidden in three leather bags stored in the Maurice Nadeau suitcase. Meanwhile, Photo filed in court

Clear objective

Maurice Nadeau nevertheless traveled “quite simply not credible”: guilty by bus. Consequently, the 700 km connecting his home from Chapais to Montreal. Then, he flew to go to a hotel in a Johannesburg Casino complex, a South African metropolis.

At the end of his journey. a certain “Queen” would have given him a new suitcase containing a few clothes and three leather bags.

The lady would have made her sign a document granting him $ 2.3 million if he brought in the gift.

Only three sketches and three leather bags were in the Maurice Nadeau suitcase. Photo filed in court

“How could he believe that “quite simply not credible”: guilty bringing a few. gifts to be worth such an important amount of money?” Asked Judge Éric de Champlain, in his judgment.

A hotel room would also have been reserved for him in downtown Montreal to reach the baggage recipient.

If Nadeau had refused to take the suitcase, he would have lost his return ticket to Quebec, he claimed.

In the eyes of the court. “the main objective for the accused was to go to Johannesburg and to sign the documents allowing him to recover the $ 2.3 million when he returned to Canada”.

Strangely heavy

Nadeau was finally pinned by landing at Montreal-Trudeau airport.

If his personal luggage was without reproaches. his new suitcase was “completely empty”, but “seemed abnormally heavy,” said a border services agent.

Drugs were notably hidden in a double bottom of the suitcase. In all, the luggage contained 7.2 kg of heroin, had it been admitted.

“quite simply not credible”: guilty

Maurice Nadeau would have imported 7.2kg of heroin in a suitcase on the return from a trip to South Africa. He was arrested at Montreal-Trudeau airport in May 2022. The drug had been hidden in a suitcase. Photo filed in court Photo filed in court

In interrogation. Maurice Nadeau reported that he had inspected the contents of the baggage and that he “had no idea that there could be something illegal in there”.

Being a “seasoned. experienced traveler”, the septuagenarian is however a regular at the verifications made by the customs officers, said Champlain’s judge.

Heroin had been found in the double bottom of a suitcase brought back to Montreal by Maurice Nadeau. Photo filed in court

“It is unthinkable that the accused could have believed that he could take the risk of bringing a suitcase. containing even new gifts, without suspecting that something did not work,” he said.

Nadeau will return to court later for her sentence.

– with the collaboration of Camille paying