Cheese, it's the cops?

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NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Authorities are investigating cheese smuggling across the U.S.-Canadian border and the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reports sources say police may be the mules.

Niagara Regional Police have been going from pizzeria to pie shop in the Niagara Falls, Ontario, area trying to track down the international smugglers of cheap cheese.

The CBC reported Monday several Niagara police sources say charges are expected soon against a few officers who are alleged to have been involved in schlepping caseloads of cheese from the United States back into Canada to sell to pizzerias and restaurants.

They allegedly have been loading cases of "brick" cheese that costs as little as a third of what it costs in Canada into their vehicles and making the run back north across the border.

Sources told the CBC drivers can make $1,000-$2,000 a trip.

Brandon Elms at Volcano Pizzeria in Fonthill, west of Niagara Falls, told the CBC police investigators had been in a couple of times to ask about cheese shipments.

"We get all our stuff legit," he said. "We thought it was a joke at first. Who is going to go around trying to sell smuggled cheese?

"The cheese bandits, the mozzarella mafia!"