Opium in tennis balls intercepted by border officials at Calgary airport

Border officers were suspicious when they opened a suitcase at the Calgary International Airport earlier this month and discovered it contained tennis balls.

They noted several "anomalies" in the Sept. 7 discovery.

Underneath thefelt exterior was a layer of masking tape an indication the sporting goodshad been tampered with.

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Further investigation showed they contained a black, tar-like substance.

It tested positive for suspected opium,the Canada Border Services Agency said in a release Wednesday.

Officers seized 3.3 kilograms of suspected opium concealed inside the tennis balls. They also seized a small amount of steroids.

The traveller was arrested and turned over to the RCMP along with the seized drugs.

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