Cocaine seized by the Canada Border Services Agency on December 2, 2017. (Supplied by CBSA)

By David Opinko

Couple found guilty of smuggling cocaine into Canada at Coutts

Apr 26, 2021 | 9:24 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The 12-member jury has reached its verdict in a significant drug smuggling trial.

Gurminder Singh Toor was found guilty on both counts – importing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Kirandeep Kaur Toor was also convicted of importing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking but was also declared guilty of the lesser charge of simple possession.

The couple attempted to cross at the Coutts border into Canada on December 2, 2017.

Officers with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) found 84 bricks of cocaine inside weighing about 99.5 kilograms including packaging.

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Depending on how the drugs are packaged and sold, the crown says it could have had a street value between $3.7 million and $5 million.

At the time of the offence, it was the largest-ever seizure of cocaine at Coutts.

Throughout the six-day trial, the essential element was whether or not the married couple was aware that the drugs were in their commercial vehicle.

Closing arguments wrapped up early Monday afternoon and the jury returned with its verdict about seven to eight hours later. Court was called to reconvene for the decision around 8:30 pm.

Court heard that the Toors were bringing produce from Southern California to the Costco in Airdrie.

The defence had tried to argue that the drugs could have been placed in the vehicle unbeknownst to the pair when they stopped at a gas station in Great Falls, Montana.

The crown, however, believed that this would not make any sense as drug dealers would be unlikely to put millions of dollars worth of product in a vehicle if the occupants were not willing participants.

In the defence’s scenario, the crown stated that the theoretical dealers would not know who the Toors are, where they were going, how long they would have been in the gas station, or if they would ever be able to reconnect with the vehicle and recover the drugs on the other side of the border.

A date for sentencing is expected to be set on May 10, 2021.

READ MORE: Largest seizure of suspected cocaine in Alberta made at Coutts

READ MORE: Couple co-accused in Coutts cocaine case cross-examined in court

READ MORE: Closing arguments heard in 99 kg Coutts cocaine smuggling case

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