Australian caught with cocaine at Osoyoos border hopes to remain in Canada

PENTICTON – An Australian man who has fallen in love with Canada will have to wait and see if an absolute discharge on a drug possession charge in Penticton court will affect his ability to acquire citizenship.

Cameron Reid, 32, appeared in Penticton court today, March 21, on a charge of cocaine possession following an incident at the Osoyoos border crossing last year.

Crown Prosecutor Ginger Holmes says Reid was at the Osoyoos crossing on July 26, 2015 driving a Ford F350 pickup when he was referred to secondary inspection after being unable to show proof of Canadian residency, presenting only an Australian driver's license.

A search of Reid’s truck revealed seven grams of cocaine, which resulted in a charge and his release on a promise to appear.

In a joint submission prepared by Crown and defence lawyer Shledon Pinx, Holmes told Judge Gale Sinclair Reid had completed 30 hours of community work service and with that, recommended an absolute discharge on the matter.

Pinx told court his client, originally from Perth, Australia, had gone to Whistler on a snowboarding holiday and had fallen in love with Canada.

He was on his way to a music festival in Osoyoos when he re-routed his travel plans due to a marathon. His GPS program directed him into the United States by accident, and he was returning to Canada in Osoyoos when he was flagged for secondary inspection.

Pinx says his client was hoping to remain in the country, and wished to apply for a more permanent form of residency, adding he was looking at going into a possible business partnership.

He says since the incident his client had “completely disassociated himself from drug use.”

Judge Gale Sinclair agreed to the joint submission, giving Reid an absolute discharge.

Reid will have to pay a $100 victim surcharge fee.

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