More than 200kg of cocaine seized at US border, five arrested
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COUTTS – The RCMP Federal Policing’s Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) in Raymond have arrested five men after three separate seizures of cocaine at the Coutts Port of Entry.
On September 2, 2016, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) conducted a search of a commercial truck as it entered Canada with a load of televisions. Sixty packages of a controlled substance, weighing 69 kilograms, were hidden in the load of televisions. The substance was later determined to be cocaine.
Two men were detained under the Customs Act for smuggling, and the RCMP IBET unit out of Raymond were asked to attend the port of entry.
Police charged 29-year-old Gurpreet Singh Cheema, and 28-year-old Gurpreet Singh with Importing a Controlled Substance and Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking a Controlled Substance on September 3. The two made their first court appearance in Lethbridge Provincial Court on September 12, and have been released on a strict set of conditions imposed by the court. They are scheduled to appear in Provincial Court on October 24, 2016 in Lethbridge.
On September 4 at approximately 11:20-pm, CBSA officers conducted a search of a commercial truck as it entered Canada through the Coutts Port of Entry. The shipment on the truck was a load of novelty items destined for market in Alberta.
Concealed within the load were 34 packages, weighing 40.45 kilograms, of a controlled substance which was tested and determined to be cocaine, as well.
The driver detained under the Customs Act, and CBSA officers requested attendance of the RCMP’s IBET unit which launched its investigation into the matter.
Tejinderpal Singh Sandhu, 34, was charged with Importing a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. He appeared in Lethbridge Provincial Court on September 16, and was released from custody on strict conditions. Sandhu is scheduled to appear in Lethbridge court on October 24, 2016, at 9:30-am.
On October 10, another commercial vehicle hauling produce was stopped at Coutts. Officers inspected the vehicle and found 83 bricks of cocaine hidden throughout the cab. The total weight of the seizure was 92.74 kg. The load of produce was destined for an Alberta business.
The RCMP’s IBET unit attended the port of entry, and the driver and co-driver were taken into custody. Both were charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking and Importing a Controlled Substance. Jasmail Singh Sander, 53, of British Columbia, and Parmjeet Singh Sandhu, 31, of Ontario made their first court appearance on October 18 in Lethbridge, and were then released on strict conditions.
