Close X
Sunday, December 22, 2024
ADVT 
National

Five Canadians facing extradition to the U.S. for involvement in drug-smuggling ring

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 30 Jan, 2024 04:03 PM
  • Five Canadians facing extradition to the U.S. for involvement in drug-smuggling ring

Authorities have dismantled a drug-smuggling operation they say involved large quantities of narcotics coming into Los Angeles from Mexico before being distributed in the U.S. and brought into Canada by long-haul truckers.

The cross-border operation dubbed "Operation Dead Hand" saw 19 people charged in two U.S. federal indictments for their alleged roles in the organized crime syndicate, including Roberto Scoppa, a Montrealer alleged by authorities to be a large-scale Canadian trafficker and Italian Mafia figure.

"This conspiracy spanned three countries and involved drug suppliers connected to cartels in Mexico, drug distributors and brokers in Los Angeles, Canadian truck drivers and a network that exported drugs into Canada, and even an associate of the Italian Mafia in Montreal," U.S. attorney Martin Estrada told a news conference in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

A total of 10 people were arrested, including five from Quebec, Ontario and Alberta. Arrest and search warrants were executed in Montreal, Toronto and Calgary as well as in Texas, Florida and California.

The RCMP said in a news release the Canadians arrested will face extradition to the United States to stand trial.

According to U.S. authorities, Scoppa, 55, is alleged to have bought massive quantities of cocaine and other drugs on a wholesale basis. In addition to Scoppa, the Mounties arrested Ivan Gravel Gonzalez, 32, of Trois-Rivières, Que., Ayush Sharma, 25, and Guramrit Sidhu, 60, of Brampton, Ont., and Subham Kumar, 29, of Calgary.

Estrada said one of the indictments says Sidhu allegedly purchased kilograms of methamphetamine from suppliers in Mexico and Los Angeles. 

"He then operated a network of truck drivers. They would use long-haul semi-trucks to move those drugs up through the United States and into Canada," Estrada said.

Gonzalez, who is listed as a resident of Montreal and the Dominican Republic in documents, is alleged to be part of Sidhu’s exportation team. Sidhu, also known as “King,” is charged with one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise and is described as having held "a position of organizer, supervisor and manager."

The group allegedly used Canadian "handlers" and "dispatchers" who would travel to Los Angeles for short periods of time. The "handlers" would co-ordinate the pickup and delivery of the shipments of cocaine and methamphetamine using Canada-bound trucks. 

The transportation was co-ordinated by a network of drivers working with dozens of trucking companies who made numerous border crossings from the United States to Canada via the Detroit Windsor Tunnel, the Buffalo Peace Bridge and the Blue Water Bridge, authorities said.

Sharma and Kumar are truck drivers.

The allegations have not been tested in court.

The indictments allege the network trafficked approximately 845 kilograms of methamphetamine, 951 kilograms of cocaine, 20 kilograms of fentanyl and four kilograms of heroin, with a wholesale value of between US$16 million and US$28 million — a number that goes up exponentially in Canada.

Estrada said a kilogram of methamphetamine in Canada could sell for up to 20 times more than what it would fetch in Los Angeles.

"With this takedown, we've eliminated a major funnel of drugs into our country and also into Canada," Estrada said.

The arrests underscore the need for co-operation among law enforcement to combat an international problem. "It also shows that at the upper echelons and drug trafficking organizations, the people pulling the strings are sophisticated organized criminals," Estrada added.

The RCMP said in a statement the Canadian seizures included $940,000 in cash, 70 kilograms of cocaine and four kilograms of heroin.

"As the world becomes more interconnected, organized crime groups continue to evolve and expand internationally, seeking more direct access to lucrative markets," RCMP Chief Supt. Mathieu Bertrand told reporters in Los Angeles. 

"However, by continuing to work together on numerous cross-border initiatives, the RCMP and U.S. law enforcement agencies can make a difference."

MORE National ARTICLES

Champagne says he's working phones to court new players for Canadian grocery market

Champagne says he's working phones to court new players for Canadian grocery market
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne is once again insisting that he is reaching out to international grocers in the hopes they will open up shop in Canada and spur more competition. Champagne said Tuesday that he'd spoken to one foreign grocer that very morning as part of his efforts to court new players for the Canadian grocery sector  — but he's not naming any names. 

Champagne says he's working phones to court new players for Canadian grocery market

Canada sends $40M for Palestinians in Gaza, as Liberal MP decries UNRWA freeze

Canada sends $40M for Palestinians in Gaza, as Liberal MP decries UNRWA freeze
Canada is sending another $40 million in aid to organizations that are helping people in the Gaza Strip after pausing funding to the UN's relief agency for Palestinians — with one Liberal MP saying it's doubtful other groups will be as effective. The funding top-up, bringing the total commitment to $100 million, comes as Ottawa condemns what it calls "inflammatory rhetoric" from Israeli government officials about the forced displacement of those who live in the besieged territory. 

Canada sends $40M for Palestinians in Gaza, as Liberal MP decries UNRWA freeze

Overnight fire at Surrey strip mall

Overnight fire at Surrey strip mall
Surrey police are investigating a suspicious fire overnight that engulfed several businesses at a strip mall. RCMP say it happened at around midnight at the mall at the intersection of 148th Street and 108th Avenue.

Overnight fire at Surrey strip mall

Punjab man guilty of fatal car crash in Canada deported to India

Punjab man guilty of fatal car crash in Canada deported to India
A 26-year-old man hailing from Punjab has been deported to India less than a year after he was found guilty of a car crash that killed a woman and her elderly mother in the Canadian province of Alberta. Bipinjot Gill, who arrived in Canada in 2016 on a student visa, sped through a red light in Calgary on May 18, 2019, killing Uzma Afzal, 31, and her mother, Bilquees Begum, 65, on the spot.

Punjab man guilty of fatal car crash in Canada deported to India

Indo-Canadian arrested in connection with fatal shooting of teen

Indo-Canadian arrested in connection with fatal shooting of teen
An 18-year-old Indo-Canadian has been taken into custody and an arrest warrant has been issued for a 16-year-old in connection with the shooting death of a fellow Indian-origin teen last month. On December 19, 2023, a local hospital notified Peel Police about 18-year-old Nishan Thind who was admitted with a gunshot wound just before 6 pm.

Indo-Canadian arrested in connection with fatal shooting of teen

CBC head Catherine Tait set to face off with MPs over job cuts, executive bonuses

CBC head Catherine Tait set to face off with MPs over job cuts, executive bonuses
The president of CBC and Radio-Canada is set to testify on Parliament Hill today following the public broadcaster's recent announcement that it would cut 10 per cent of its workforce. Catherine Tait is scheduled to appear before a House of Commons committee this afternoon, where MPs are expected to grill her on the cuts — and whether executives are still receiving bonuses.

CBC head Catherine Tait set to face off with MPs over job cuts, executive bonuses

PrevNext