NRI border guard allegedly using his
position to turn a blind eye on smuggling.
3 NRIs
arrested for importing 208 kilograms of cocaine worth $6 million,
three handguns and $200,000 in cash to Canada
Vancouver, Oct. 31, 2007
Mansa Singh
NRI, Baljinder Kandola, Surrey resident, a Canadian
Border Services agent for six year, stationed at the
Pacific Highway truck crossing has been arrested alleging that
he used his position to allow cocaine and guns to be smuggled
across the Canada-U.S. border. Kandola is also charged with
breach of trust and bribery
Shortly after crossed the border, NRI Shminder Johal,
34, and Herman Riar, 26, were arrested and charged with
importing cocaine to Canada, possession for the purposes of trafficking,
conspiracy to import cocaine, as well as importing restricted
firearms with the help of Baljinder Kandola
Kim Scoville of Canada Border Services Agency said, "For
one of their own to use authority and trust as an officer for
personal gain would be the ultimate betray."
RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency were investing for
the past 13 months and closely watching the Pacific Highway Border
crossing in Surrey. Police allege that two luxury SUVs (GMC Yukon
Denalis) were allowed to pass through a commercial inspection
booth without examination. Police got tip that a border guard
had allegedly been allowing vehicles carrying contraband to pass
through unexamined.
They found a shipment of 208 kilograms of cocaine, worth $6
million wholesale, plus three handguns and ammunition in one of
the vehicles.The police said they later found $200,000 cash in
Johal's residence.
Dan Malo, RCMP Insp. of E Division's Border
Integrity section, told a news conference:
- The evidence supports the belief that Mr. Kandola previously
arranged with Mr. Johal safe passage through the port of entry
at this specific time.
- We are unaware of how long the three men have known each other
- We just know that during these last 13 months, they knew each
other very well.
- None of the three men had previous criminal records.
- Police had mixed feelings about the probe into Kandola's activities
- Nobody in Canada imports this quantity of cocaine without
being involved with organized crime
- There are multitude of charges laid against the three men:
Kandola faces six, Johal and Riar face four each
- Twenty-five officers worked continuously over the 13 months
to collect evidence
- The evidence supports the belief that Mr. Kandola previously
arranged with Mr. Johal safe passage through the port of entry
at this specific time
Kandola was a full-time employee who finished his recruit training,
including a ‘reliability’ check, in June 2001, and
has worked at the truck side of the port ever since.There is no
word on how long Baljinder Kandola has been tied to Criminal Organized
crime or how long his involvement has resulted in untold amounts
of drugs, money and guns to pass freely through our borders in
the 6 years he has been with Canada Border Services. This is certainly
a blow to Border guards on both sides of the border who feel they
in a losing the battle on the War on Drugs.
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