Canadian nurse is ‘caught trying to sneak more than 150 lbs of marijuana over the U.S border by using her credentials to avoid Covid-19 travel restrictions’

  • Terri Leanne Maxwell, 48, is a registered nurse from Amherstburg, Ontario
  • She was wearing scrubs and a lab coat and allegedly had 150lbs of marijuana
  • Border agents could smell the drug from the car and found 143 bags in the trunk
  • If convicted of the crimes, Maxwell could face up to 20 years in federal prison 
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

By Chris Jewers For Mailonline

Published: 15:12 BST, 24 April 2020 | Updated: 15:14 BST, 24 April 2020

A nurse from Canada allegedly attempted to smuggle 150 pounds worth of marijuana into the U.S. on Wednesday, but was stopped by border police when they discovered it in the trunk of her car.

The suspect, Terri Leanne Maxwell, 48, is a registered nurse from Amherstburg, Ontario. Officials have said she was wearing scrubs and a lab coat and had a badge from Henry Ford Hospital.

She also had a badge from the Canada Border Services Agency confirming she was a health care worker, they said. 

During the coronavirus crisis, only essential workers are allowed to travel between Canada and the U.S., including medical personnel and first responders. 

A Canadian nurse was stopped and found to have over 150 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of her car as she attempted to smuggle it into the U.S. over the Detroit Ambassador Bridge (pictured). The bridge is one of the busiest crossings between the two nations

A Canadian nurse was stopped and found to have over 150 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of her car as she attempted to smuggle it into the U.S. over the Detroit Ambassador Bridge (pictured). The bridge is one of the busiest crossings between the two nations

Maxwell, who was caught as she was crossing into the U.S. over the Detroit Ambassador Bridge at 9 a.m on Wednesday, has been charged with conspiracy, possession with the intent to distribute, and importing more than 100 pounds of marijuana into the country.

It appears that she was using her status as a health care worker as means to enter the country while smuggling the drug into the U.S. 

‘At a time when health care professionals are working overtime to keep us safe, it’s really shameful that anyone would exploit their status as a nurse to smuggle any kind of drug into our country,’ stated United States Attorney Matthew Schneider.

‘To stop the spread of the Coronavirus, our Canadian border is open only for essential travel — and smuggling in marijuana simply isn’t essential.’

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers had Maxwell open her trunk when they noticed it appeared to be full and they could smell marijuana from outside of her car. 

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Eastern District of Michigan, once she opened the trunk, they found 143 vacuum sealed bags of suspected marijuana that in total weighed around 153 pounds. 

If convicted, Maxwell could face up to 20 years in federal prison for the crime.

Border agents discovered 143 vacuum packed bags of marijuana in her trunk (stock image)

Border agents discovered 143 vacuum packed bags of marijuana in her trunk (stock image)

Border agents discovered 143 vacuum packed bags of marijuana in her trunk (stock image)

‘Even during this pandemic, CBP remains vigilant in our mission to stop transnational criminal organizations who are attempting to exploit processes and essential personnel crossing the border,’ said CBP Director of Field Operations Christopher Perry. 

The Henry Ford Hospital system said that Maxwell had been placed on administrative leave pending the result of the investigation into her, adding: ‘We were extremely disappointed to learn about these allegations.’

According to the criminal complaint filed with the Attorney’s Office, Maxwell had presented her Canadian passport and a work permit she obtained under the Trade NAFTA agreement, showing she was allowed to work in the U.S. as a nurse. 

Only essential workers are currently allowed across the border between Canada and the U.S., (pictured, U.S. customs on Ambassador Bridge) including medical workers and first responders

Only essential workers are currently allowed across the border between Canada and the U.S., (pictured, U.S. customs on Ambassador Bridge) including medical workers and first responders

Only essential workers are currently allowed across the border between Canada and the U.S., (pictured, U.S. customs on Ambassador Bridge) including medical workers and first responders

Michigan has the third-most reported deaths related to COVID-19 in the United States behind New York and New Jersey. 

According to data from the New York Times, there has been a total of 35,252 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Michigan, with 2,977 deaths as a result of the disease.

Meanwhile, the number of deaths in the U.S. passed another grim milestone yesterday as the figure rose past 50,000, reaching 50,442. The country has also seen 891,622 confirmed cases of the disease.

In the U.S. there has now been 891,622 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 50,442 deaths resulting from the disease as of April 23

In the U.S. there has now been 891,622 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 50,442 deaths resulting from the disease as of April 23

In the U.S. there has now been 891,622 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 50,442 deaths resulting from the disease as of April 23

:

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk