Two U.S. citizens were arrested at the Peace Bridge during Canada Border Services Agency’s Operation Meridian, a targeted 60-day operation that took place in southern Ontario.
• River Donell Goldwire, 25, of Covington, Georgia, was arrested for smuggling a stolen firearm at the Peace Bridge port of entry. The date of arrest wasn’t provided. Goldwire was charged with multiple offences under the Customs Act and Criminal Code of Canada.
• Oshin Sharara Thompson, 31, of Springfield, New York, was arrested for failing to report $93,100 in U.S. funds on Sept. 17, 2025, at the Peace Bridge port of entry. Thompson was transferred into the custody of the RCMP and criminally charged under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorism Financing Act.
Initiated under Canada’s Border Plan, Operation Meridian’s goal was to disrupt the import and export of illicit narcotics through commercial channels at ports of entry across southern Ontario. During the operation, border services officers increased examinations of inbound and outbound commercial shipments, using detection tools and increased referrals from CBSA’s National Targeting Centre.
As a result of Operation Meridian, border services officers seized:
• 108.6235 kg of cocaine, including 223.5 g in three courier shipments
• 349.8 kg of methamphetamines
• 266 kg of khat from seven courier shipments
• 14.5 g of opium
• 8,267 kg of tobacco, 115,416 tins of nicotine and 14,400 vapourizers
• 9 firearms (including 1 stolen firearm) and 19 weapons
• US$93,100 in currency as proceeds of crime.
Roughly 90% of these seizures were attempts to smuggle into Canada, while 10% involved seizures on export.
“Nobody should doubt our commitment to protecting our borders. Operation Meridian highlights the outstanding work on our frontlines by border services officers, specialized CBSA teams, and law enforcement partners in tackling organized crime and the scourge of illegal drugs. This work was initiated under Canada’s Border Plan and demonstrates how keeping Canadians safe is our government’s top priority,” said Gary Anandasangaree, minister of public safety.
Canada is investing $1.3 billion to bolster security at the border and strengthen the immigration system, all while keeping Canadians safe. Information on the Border Plan is available here: The Government of Canada’s Border Plan: significant investments to strengthen border security and our immigration system.
If you have information about suspicious cross-border activity, please contact the CBSA Border Watch Line toll-free at 1-888-502-9060, or visit us online.
Anyone with information regarding criminal activity is encouraged to contact their local police, the RCMP at 1-800-387-0020 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.