Stay informed with the LNN Daily Newsletter

Preliminary hearings set in separate drug smuggling cases

Sep 14, 2018 | 3:43 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Preliminary hearings have been set in two separate matters that involve allegations of three individuals trying to bring drugs into Canada at the U.S. border last December.

The hearings will determine if there is enough evidence for the cases to proceed to trial.

During a brief appearance in Lethbridge Provincial Court Friday, Sept. 14, a lawyer appearing for Gurminder Singh Toor and Kirandeep Kaur Toor – charged in connection with a border inspection on Dec. 2, 2017 at the Coutts port of entry – had their one-day prelim has been set for Nov. 16.

Immediately after setting that date, the case of Kuldeep Singh was then called up – charged just over two weeks later on Dec. 17, also at Coutts – with his prelim set to run Nov. 27 and 28.

Gurminder Singh Toor and Kirandeep Kaur Toor

According to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers, they found 84 bricks of suspected cocaine while searching a semi truck and trailer with two occupants that was hauling a load of produce from California to a business in Alberta.

It was noted that the combined weight of the bricks totaled 99.5 kilograms, making it the largest CBSA seizure of suspected cocaine on record in the province.

The husband and wife, both of California, were turned over to RCMP and charged under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Kuldeep Singh

Once again, CBSA officers conducted a search of a commercial vehicle that was transporting produce from California into Alberta, when they found 17 bricks of suspected cocaine.

The total weight in this case was 21 kilograms.

The Calgary man, who was the lone occupant of the vehicle, was also charged under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.