A Canada Border Services Agency officer at the Queenston-Lewiston port of entry in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., has been charged after an RCMP investigation into a transport truck that allegedly entered Canada carrying millions of dollars worth of opium, cannabis products and tobacco. Police said the case began after the CBSA shared information with the RCMP about one of its own officers.
The accused officer, Daniel Notarianni, was arrested in January 2026 after investigators determined he did not follow CBSA policy and a transport truck and trailer were allowed into Canada with contraband, according to the RCMP. The truck driver, identified by police as Abhishek Abhishek, was also arrested and charged. RCMP Federal Policing Central Region said officers with Niagara-on-the-Lake Border Integrity executed a warrant for Notarianni’s arrest on March 6.
Police said both men face a series of charges, including conspiracy to import a Schedule I substance, trafficking a controlled substance, importation of a Schedule I substance, three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking under the Cannabis Act, three counts of distribution under the Cannabis Act, and transportation and possession of tobacco for the purpose of sale. The RCMP said Notarianni was set to appear in court on March 18, while Abhishek appeared in court on March 13.
In the RCMP release, Superintendent Dale Foote, officer in charge of Border Integrity for Federal Policing Central Region, said the investigation showed the strength of coordination between the two agencies.
“This investigation highlights the strength of the partnership between the RCMP and the CBSA in maintaining a secure border. When the CBSA brought this information forward, our members were able to respond quickly and carry out a careful, impartial investigation. The charges announced today reflect our commitment to upholding the law with integrity and consistency,” Foote said.
