Importing and Exporting Drugs (Sentencing Cases)

From Criminal Law Notebook
This page was last substantively updated or reviewed May 2021. (Rev. # 93209)

Case Digests - CDSA

Case Name Prv. Crt. Sentence Drug / Quant. Summary
2020
R v Ojukwu, 2020 ONSC 743 (CanLII), per Lemay J ON SC 5 years
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Keywords: None
2019
R v Safroni, 2019 ONSC 3022 (CanLII), per Ricchetti J ON SC 2 years imprisonment
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Keywords: None
2018
R v Hasankhani, 2018 ONSC 3669 (CanLII), per Baltman J ON SC 5 years 5 kg opium
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Keywords: None
R v Sarjoghian, 2018 ONSC 3142 (CanLII), per Emery J ON SC 4.5 years 4.6 kg opium
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Keywords: None
2017
R v Bayrami-Asl, 2017 ONSC 2055 (CanLII), per LeMay J ON SC 5 years imprisonment 3.9 kg opium The offender was convicted at trial of importing opium.
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Keywords: None
2016
R v Kaneza, 2016 ABCA 411 (CanLII), per Martin JA AB CA 11 years (importing)
7 years (trafficking)
2.92 kg Heroin The offender was stopped at the airport in Edmonton flying in from Europe. She was found with heroin with a street value between 870k and 1.7 million. She was 27 years old at the time of the offence and had three children.
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Keywords: None
R v Rajaei-Mehrabadi, , [2016] O.J. No. 2655(*no CanLII links)

, per Dawson J

ON SC 4.5 years 6.5 kilograms of opium
Keywords: None
2015
R v Aujla, 2015 ONCA 350 (CanLII), per Benotto JA ON CA 10 and 12 years 37 kg two accused imported cocaine in an ice-cream truck. Alleged they were "blind couriers".
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Keywords: None
R v Salamat Ravandi, [2015] B.C.J. No. 2537 (B.C.S.C.)(*no CanLII links)

, per B.M. Davies J

BC SC 4.5 years "sentenced a 36 year old accused with no criminal record to four and a half years for the importation of 17.95 kilograms of opium. The Crown in that case suggested a range of five to seven years. Davies J. reviewed a number of cases, including some British Columbia cases I have not referred to, and held that the appropriate range of sentence was three to seven years and “not the much higher range appropriate for sentencing for the importation of heroin or cocaine” (para. 33)."
Keywords: None
R v Henareh, [2015] BCJ No. 2880, {{{3}}} BC 14kg opium
Keywords: None
2014
R v Zeisig, 2014 ONSC 3529 (CanLII), per Tzimas J ON SC 4.5 years 1.9 kg Offender was importing cocaine at Pearson airport.
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Keywords: None
R v Rodriguez, 2014 ONSC 2928 (CanLII), per O’Connor J ON SC 6 years imprisonment 1.5 kg imported heroin from Columbia. The offender was aged 69 years old and suffers from colon cancer.
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Keywords: None
2013
R v Ifejika, 2013 ONCA 531 (CanLII), per curiam ON CA 7 years imprisonment 500 g heroin convicted at trial
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Keywords: None
R v Von Holtum, 2013 BCCA 384 (CanLII), per Neilson JA BC CA 12 years imprisonment 50kg cocaine baggage handler at Vancouver Airport assisted in importing cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Akintunde, 2013 ONSC 2766(*no CanLII links) ON SC 8 years imprisonment (importation)
4 years imprisonment (traff.)
398 grams of heroin (import)
280 grams of heroin (traff)
R v Severight, 2013 SKPC 24 (CanLII), per Cardinal J SK PC
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Keywords: None
R v Pocasangre, 2013 BCSC 193 (CanLII), per J BC SC
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Keywords: None
R v Zhu, 2013 BCCA 416 (CanLII), per J BC CA
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Keywords: meth
2012
R v Robinson, 2012 ONSC 1613 (CanLII), per Goodman J ON SC 8 years imprisonment 3.532kg cocaine The offender was found guilty of importing cocaine. She was arrested at the Toronto Airport arriving from Jamaica carrying the cocaine.
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Keywords: None
R v Kandola, 2012 BCSC 1042 (CanLII), per Romilly J BC SC 14 years imprisonment 208 kg of cocaine offender employed by CBSA - also convicted of importing guns
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Keywords: None
R v Palfrey, 2012 SKQB 487 (CanLII), per Keene J SK SC 14 years imprisonment
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Keywords: None
R v Knockwood, 2012 ONSC 2238 (CanLII), per Hill J ON SC 6 years imprisonment 997 g heroin
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Keywords: None
R v Payne, 2012 CanLII 41098 (NLSCTD), per Goodridge J NL SC 5 years, 7 months 3 kg also importing 12k pills and marijuana. Total street value of $645,000.00.
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Keywords: None
R v Razmara, 2012 ONCA 13 (CanLII), per curiam ON CA 14 years imprisonment importation of large amount of cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Dixon and Westover, 2012 ONSC 4171 (CanLII), per Taliano J ON SC 5 years (import, Westover)
6 years (import, Dixon)
The two offenders conspired to import cocaine.
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Keywords: None
2011
R v Chukwu,
2011 ONSC 2216 (CanLII), [2011] OJ No 3356, per Kiteley J
ON SC 4 years (importation)
2 years (poss'n)
6 months (other CC)
1.4 kg cocaine
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Keywords: None
2009
R v Gurm, [2009] O.J. No. 5007 (S.C.J.)(*no CanLII links) ON SC 2 years less a day "my colleague Justice Wein imposed a sentence of two years less one day to be followed by a period of probation. The weight of the opium imported in that case is not stated but the street value is specified as being between $10,000 and $17,000. There were indications the accused was a user. A para. 6 Justice Wein found that the quantity imported was suggestive of only small scale distribution."
Keywords: None
2008
R v Sidhu, [2008] OJ No 3479(C.J.)(*no CanLII links) ON CA 14 years, 9 months 9.56 kilograms of heroin varied 2009 ONCA 81 (CanLII), 242 C.C.C (3d) 273
Keywords: None
R v Bokark, 2008 ONCJ 378 (CanLII), per Fairgrieve J ON PC opium
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Keywords: None
2007
R v Rashidi-Alavijie, 2007 ONCA 712 (CanLII), per Gillese JA ON CA 5.5 years "the court upheld a sentence of five and a half years imposed by J. Murray J. (see [2006] O.J. No. 4015) for the importation of 5.9 kilograms of opium. The appellant in that case was 36 years old, had no criminal record and was not a user of opium."
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Keywords: None
2006
R v Jones, 2006 CanLII 28086 (ON CA, per Doherty JA ON CA 40 months imprisonment 849 gr cocaine The offender was caught arriving from Jamaica at Toronto Airport.
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Keywords: None
R v Epp, 2006 BCCA 570 (CanLII), per J BC CA
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Keywords: None
2005
R v Dhaliwal, 2005 BCSC 1576 (CanLII), per J BC SC
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Keywords: None
2004
R v Hamilton and Mason, 2004 CanLII 5549 (ON CA), per Doherty JA ON CA 20 months, 2 years less a day 349 gr Both offenders pleaded guilty to importing cocaine. They were both couriers who were caught at the Toronto airport returning from Jamaica. Hamilton had swallowed pellets of cocaine worth about $70,000. Mason swallowed 489 gr of cocaine. Hamilton was 26 years old with no record. She as a single mother. Mason was 31 year old single mother with no record.
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Keywords: None
R v Sherman, 2004 CanLII 17725 (ON CA) ON CA 9 years
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Keywords: None
R v Cody, 2004 CanLII 18275 (QC CS) QC SC 5 years cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Aghabeigi,
2004 BCCA 263 (CanLII), [2004] B.C.J. No. 1035 (C.A.), per Ryan JA
BC CA 3 years imprisonment "the court upheld a three year sentence imposed at trial for the importation of 9.6 kilograms of opium hidden in the lining of suitcases. The court described the sentence as lenient but found no basis to interfere with the trial judge’s sentence. The accused in that case was a 41 year old woman with no criminal record who suffered from depression and some other health problems. The court did refer to two other cases that supported a sentence in the range of six to seven years for such an offence. This case appears to me to establish the bottom of the range for the importation of multiple kilograms of opium at three years."
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Keywords: None
2003
R v Sandhu, 2003 BCSC 2033 (CanLII) BC SC
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Keywords: None
R v Bajada, 2003 CanLII 15687 (ON CA, per Weiler JA ON CA 6 years imprisonment 1.5 kg cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Mensah, 2003 CanLII 57419 (ON CA) ON CA 7+ years heroin
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Keywords: None
R v Lawson, 2003 CanLII 27915 (ON SC) ON SC 8 years cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Spencer, 2003 CanLII 36890 (ON SC) ON SC 20 months cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Wilson, 2003 CanLII 34247 (ON CA) ON CA 3 years
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Keywords: None
R v Johnston, 2003 CanLII 14150 (ON SC) ON SC CSO 22 months cocaine
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Keywords: None
2002
R v Carpenter, 2002 BCCA 301 (CanLII) BC CA 6 years
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Keywords: None
R v Brissett, 2002 CanLII 19090 (ON CA) ON CA 18 month CSO cannabis resin
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Keywords: None
2001
R v Syblis, 2001 CanLII 24127 (ON CA, per curiam ON CA 7 years (import cocaine)
4 years (import, hash)
2.13 kg cocaine and 1 kg hashish
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Keywords: None
2000
R v Viettro-Borges, 2000 CanLII 1768 (QC CA) QC CA CSO cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Morielli, 2000 CanLII 8620 (QC CA) QC CA 10 years cocaine
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Keywords: None
1999
R v Bérubé (R.), 1999 CanLII 32756 (NB CA) NB CA 7 years cannabis
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Keywords: None
R v Wellington, 1999 CanLII 3054 (ON CA) ON CA CSO hashish
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Keywords: None
R v John Doe, 1999 CanLII 15051 (ON SC) ON SC 2 years less a day CSO cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Jones, 1999 CanLII 3700 (ON CA) ON CA 5 years cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Valentini, 1999 CanLII 1885 (ON CA) ON CA 12 years (V)
4 years (P)
cocaine
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Keywords: None
1998
R v Grossman, 1998 CanLII 2432 (BC SC) BC SC 5 years heroin
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Keywords: None
R v Shalala (R.), 1998 CanLII 28270 (NB KB) NB SC 18 years
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Keywords: None
R v Alleyne, 1998 CanLII 2116 (ON CA, per curiam ON CA 7 years 2.5 powder cocaine The offender was a drug courier. He had no prior record.
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Keywords: None
R v Redekopp, 1998 CanLII 1820 (ON CA) ON CA 4 years marijuana
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Keywords: None
R v Koh, 1998 CanLII 6117 (ON CA) ON CA 7 years heroin
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Keywords: None
R v Holder, 1998 CanLII 14962 (ON SC) ON SC 15 months cannabis resin
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Keywords: None
R v Blagrove, 1998 CanLII 1858 (ON CA) ON CA CSO cannabis resin
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Keywords: None
R v Camacho, 1998 CanLII 4930 (ON CA) ON CA 9 years 2.5kg cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Gagnon, 1998 CanLII 13076 (QC CA) QC CA CSO hashish
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Keywords: None
R v Veillette, 1998 CanLII 13078 (QC CA) QC CA 9 months hashish
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Keywords: None
1997
R v Gauvin, 1997 CanLII 9544 (NB CA) NB CA 18 years 16 years, 20 years
R v Dugas, 1997 CanLII 7014 (QC CQ) QC PC 1 year hashish
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Keywords: None
R v Lore, 1997 CanLII 10604 (QC CA) QC CA 18 years cocaine
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Keywords: None
other cases

7. R. v. Oliynyk, 2006 BCSC 572

8. R. v. Oliynyk, 2010 BCCA 249

10. R. v. Charna, [1990] B.C.J. No. 2378 (BCCA)

11. R. v. Jeffries, 1996 CanLII 2630 (BCCA)

Narcotics Controlled Act

Case Name Prv. Crt. Sentence Drug / Quant. Summary
1996
R v Hayes, 1996 CanLII 17943 (MB CA) MB CA
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Keywords: None
R v Madden, 1996 CanLII 10228 (ON CA, per Finlayson JA ON CA 3 years imprisonment 770 gr cocaine The offender was caught at Toronto airport returning from Jamaica with cocaine in her belongings. She plead guilty. She was 23 years old with no record.
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Keywords: None
R v Shayesteh, 1996 CanLII 882 (ON CA) ON CA 8 years cocaine and opium
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Keywords: None
R v Jeffries, 1996 CanLII 2630 (BC CA) BC CA 15 years 6 kg cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Scott, 1996 CanLII 1279 (ON CA) ON CA 10 years cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Cunningham, 1996 CanLII 1311 (ON CA, per curiam ON CA 5kg cocaine The offender was a courier who carried the cocaine in her suitcase and was caught at the Toronto airport coming back from a short trip to St. Lucia. The street value of the package was about $500,000. She as 21 years old with no prior record. She was motivated by personal gain and made about $4,000 for the package.
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Keywords: None
R v Faulds, 1996 CanLII 2579 (ON CA) ON CA 5 years (F)
7 years (T)
marijuana
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Keywords: None
R v Barbeau, 1996 CanLII 6390 (QC CA) QC CA 15 years (B)
19 years (C)
27 kg cocaine
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Keywords: None
1995
R v Defrancesca, 1995 CanLII 1609 (ON CA) ON CA 17 years (S)
13-12 years (D and C)
cocaine
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Keywords: None
1994
R v Hamilton, 1994 CanLII 4632 (SK CA) SK CA 3 years marijuana
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Keywords: None
R v Cheung, 1994 CanLII 916 (BC SC) BC SC 14 years, 2 months heroin
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Keywords: None
R v Velmurugu, 1994 CanLII 1340 (ON CA) ON CA 18 years heroin
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Keywords: None
1993
R v Newman, 1993 CanLII 8592 (ON CA) ON CA 7 years hash oil
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Keywords: None
R v Gallego, 1993 CanLII 5597 (ON SC) ON SC 10 years cocaine and 76 gr heroin
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Keywords: None
R v Joubert, 1993 CanLII 1741 (BC CA) BC CA 20 years 91 kg cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Jantuah, 1993 CanLII 4386 (QC CA) QC CA 10 years heroin
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Keywords: None
1992
R v Montes, 1992 CanLII 1997 (BC CA) BC CA 8 years
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Keywords: None
R v Gervais, 1992 CanLII 3144 (QC CA) QC CA 15 years 100 million dollars in hashish
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Keywords: None
R v Yazdani, 1992 CanLII 3522 (QC CA) QC CA 25 years heroin and cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Rowbotham, 1992 CanLII 7500 (ON CA) ON CA 13 years (R)
8 years (S)

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Keywords: None
R v Hollwey, 1992 CanLII 7713 (ON CA) ON CA 9 years hashish
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Keywords: None
R v Griffiths, 1992 CanLII 293 (BC SC) BC SC 6 years 12 kg cocaine and 1/4 ton of hash
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Keywords: None
R v Blomert, 1992 CanLII 14089 (PE SCTD) PEI SC 9 years marijuana
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Keywords: None
1991
R v Dedels, 1991 CanLII 213 (BC CA) BC CA 10 years 1.5 kg cocaine
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Keywords: None
1990
R v Stephens, 1990 CanLII 2048 (BC CA) BC CA 7 years marijuana
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Keywords: None
R v Rooke, 1990 CanLII 1683 (BC CA) BC CA 20 years cocaine and heroin
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Keywords: None
R v Pepin, 1990 CanLII 2481 (NS CA) NS CA 9 years marijuana
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Keywords: None
R v Noiseux, 1990 CanLII 2936 (QC CA) QC CA 42 months hashish
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Keywords: None
R v Lemieux, 1990 CanLII 2933 (QC CA) QC CA 30 days hashish
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Keywords: None
1989
R v Morrison, 1989 CanLII 7114 (ON CA) ON CA 7.5 years marijuana
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Keywords: large-scale operation — manager and financier
R v Richard, 1989 CanLII 1256 (QC CA) QC CA 7 years cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Roberts, 1989 CanLII 7554 (NB CA) NB CA 5 years marijuana
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Keywords: million dollar value
R v Doiron, 1989 CanLII 8139 (NB CA) NB CA 8 years hashish
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Keywords: sophisticated scheme
1988
R v Newall, 1988 CanLII 3285 (BC CA) BC CA cannabis resin 12 years imprisonment
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Keywords: None
R v Iuculano, 1988 CanLII 868 (QC CA) QC CA time served cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Setoudah, 1988 CanLII 1292 (QC CA) QC CA 7 years heroin
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Keywords: None
R v Coulombe, 1988 CanLII 870 (QC CA) QC CA heroin
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Keywords: None
R v Nassar, 1988 ABCA 305 (CanLII) AB CA 6 years cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Cirone, 1988 ABCA 228 (CanLII) AB CA 10 years
7 years
cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Garofoli, 1988 CanLII 3270 (ON CA) ON CA 12 years
9 years
7 years
cocaine
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Keywords: None
R v Valiquette, 1988 CanLII 356 (QC CA) QC CA hash 4 years
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Keywords: no record
1987
R v Abolmolouk, [1987] O.J. No. 926 (C.A.)(*no CanLII links)

, per Lacourcière JA

ON CA 805 gr opium "the court allowed an appeal from a sentence of seven years for the importation of 805 grams of opium by a 40 year old appellant who had no criminal record. Taking note of the fact that the appellant had spent six months in pretrial custody the Court of Appeal reduced the sentence to four years"
Keywords: None
R v Saulnier,
1987 CanLII 2414 (BC CA), 2 WWR 546, per Seaton JA
BC CA marijuana 5 years (Saulnier)
3 years (Morneau)
42 months (McDonald)
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Keywords: conspiracy — 33-year-old offender — substance abuse
1985
R v Guiller et al., 1985 CanLII 5996 (ON SC) ON SC heroin
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Keywords: None

Cannabis

Case Name Prv. Crt. Sentence Drug / Quant. Summary
R v Adam, 2007 BCSC 764 (CanLII), per Romilly J BC SC 3.5 to 7 years large marijuana importation scheme