Punjabi trucker Pardeep Singh arrested in Canada for smuggling cocaine
Darpan News Desk IANS, 09 Jul, 2021 01:50 PM
A Punjabi trucker has been arrested in Canada for smuggling about 112.5 kg of cocaine into the country from the US.
Pardeep Singh, 24, who is a resident of LaSalle in Quebec, was caught when his truck entered Fort Erie in Canada from the US.
When Singh's truck was referred for a secondary examination, border inspectors found about 112.5 kg of cocaine hidden inside five duffle bags.
The market value of the seized drug haul is about $14 million.
Singh was arrested and handed over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
He will appear in court on Friday to face charges.
Scores of Punjabi men have been arrested recently for smuggling drugs into Canada.
In June, nine Toronto-area Punjabi men were arrested when police forces busted a 20-member drug cartel and seized drugs worth over $61 million from them.
In April, 25 Punjabi men from Brampton were arrested as part of a drug gang which was smuggling cocaine into Canada and distributing it throughout the country through its underground network.
In January, Punjabi trucker Amarpreet Singh Sandhu of Calgary created a smuggling record when he was arrested with 228.14 kg of methamphetamine worth $28.5 million in the market.
When 75 per cent of eligible people are fully vaccinated, the modelling suggested personal measures like physical distancing and wearing masks could also begin to loosen.
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc is signalling that Canadians can expect an announcement by Monday on easing pandemic travel restrictions.
The federal Conservatives are demanding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau fire Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan following what they describe as years of mismanagement and coverups.
Trudeau has called premiers to a meeting Thursday to discuss reopening borders amid concerns Canada is lagging behind other nations on resuming travel.
Industry representatives say the closed border between Canada and the United States and worker shortages will continue to hinder their restart despite fewer health restrictions.
76.1% of all adults in B.C. and 74.4% of those 12 and older have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In total, 4,102,905 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C., 657,491 of which are second doses.
