JALANDHAR: Nine of the 20 arrested by Toronto Police Service after unravelling a major international drug-smuggling racket are of Punjabi origin.
Dubbed as ‘Project Brisa’, police seized more than 1,000 kg of cocaine, crystal meth, and marijuana being transported between Mexico, California, and Canada using modified tractor trailers.
According to a statement issued by the Toronto Police Service on Tuesday, recoveries included 444 kg of cocaine, 182 kg of crystal meth, 427 kg of marijuana, 300 oxycodone pills, $966,020 in Canadian currency, 21 vehicles, including 5 tractor trailers and one firearm.
“The street value of the seized drugs is estimated to be more than $61 million and it is the largest international drug takedown in their history,” Toronto Police Service said.
Just over two months back, York Regional Police Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, after a year-long investigation conducted in coordination with Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Peel Regional Police, and the US Drug Enforcement Administration, busted a transnational drug network and arrested over 30 suspects from Greater Toronto Area , and around two dozen of the accused were of Punjabi origin.
Police said that during the six-month investigation, officers worked with Canadian and American law enforcement agencies as well as agencies throughout south western Ontario and across Canada.
Smugglers moved 100kg drugs in tractor traps in single tripBetween November 2020 and May 2021, investigators identified those responsible for transporting the illicit substances across borders for sale in Canada.
This was made possible by the installation of hydraulic traps in tractor-trailers, capable of smuggling 100 kg of substance in a single trip,” Toronto Police Service said.
Out of the nine Punjabi origin persons, one is a 43-year-old woman Harwinder Bhullar of Caledon, who has been charged with participation in a criminal organization and possession of proceeds over $5,000.
The eight face more charges that include conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, importation of a Schedule I substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking a Schedule I substance.
Three among them –Amarbir Singh Sarkaria, Gurvir Dhaliwal and Gurmanpreet Grewal are 25-26 year olds while the eldest is 46-year-old Harbaljit Singh Toor.
Investigators identified Jason Hall, 43, of Surrey, British Columbia as the “Trap Maker”, who turned himself to police in Toronto last week.
This man was allegedly responsible for building hidden compartments within the tractortrailers for smuggling large amounts of contraband across borders.