6 Punjabi-origin men arrested in Canadian drug racket

CHANDIGARH: After Punjab cops claimed in June to have busted an international drug syndicate controlled from Canada, the police in Canada’s Ontario province arrested 10 persons, including six of Punjabi origin, in an international racket involving narcotic trafficking and importation, trafficking of stolen property and fraud.
Incidentally, the infamous drug smuggling case involving former Punjab Police DSP Jagdish Singh Bhola too had a Canadian angle and it was alleged that drug money was parked in that country. The case involves allegations of synthetic drug trade with international ramifications extending to Canada.

Among those arrested by the Peel Regional police is 70-year-old Dilbag Aujla, charged with possession of opioids for the purpose of trafficking; Karan Ghuman (44), accused of possession of opioids; and Gurinder Bedi (52), charged with import of heroin, trafficking opioids, and possession of opioids for the purpose of trafficking, according to an official statement issued by the Region of Peel police. All the three men are from the city of Brampton, also known as Canada’s mini-Punjab. The other three men have been accused of fraud and possession of property obtained by crime.

The Canadian investigation has exposed criminal connections to the United States and as far reaching as Pakistan.

Highlighting the arrests, Punjab Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema said the Punjab police too should probe the racket to find out if it is linked to import of drugs into the state. “Drug abuse is a big issue in Punjab and the Congress government should react to this racket and expand the scope of the special investigation team (SIT) on drugs to look at the international trade as well,” the AAP legislator said.

Back home, on June 18, the Punjab police claimed to have busted an international drug syndicate, allegedly controlled from Canada. The accused allegedly used courier services to smuggle drugs abroad, said the cops who also seized 4.75 kg of drug ketamine, known as ‘date rape drug’, and 6 kg opium packed in the double-layered cauldron, generally used for preparation of langar, from near Jandu Singha village in Jalandhar district.