ID :
68718
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 18:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/68718
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Three Indian origin persons convicted of drug trafficking
Lalit K Jha
Washington, July 2 (PTI) Three Indian-origin persons
have been convicted by a California court for their alleged
involvement in a massive cocaine smuggling operation and its
distribution to the Asian gang members in Toronto in Canada.
The Drug Enforcement Administration alleged that one
of them Harjeet Mann (50), a Canadian national residing in
Bakersfield, California, was leader of a cocaine smuggling
operation that transported large quantities of cocaine in
semi-tractor trailers to Canada for distribution to Asian gang
members in the Toronto area.
Sukhraj Dhaliwal (39) of Bakersfield and Gurmeet Bisla
(29) of Livingston have been charged for conspiring to
distribute and to possess with intent to distribute a large
quantity of cocaine.
Mann and Dhaliwal were convicted of attempting to
possess with intent to distribute 70 kilograms of cocaine
following their delivery of approximately USD 843,000 in cash
to an undercover narcotics agent.
The jury verdict in this regard was delivered by
Senior United States District Judge Oliver W Wanger last week.
He also ordered forfeiture of the seized USD 1,011,068
US currency that represented proceeds or monies used to
facilitate drug trafficking. In addition, USD 52,669 seized
from Mann's bank accounts was previously forfeited
administratively by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The DEA said that Bisla, a drug transporter for Mann,
was stopped in Sheldon, Illinois while carrying USD 169,910 of
drug proceeds in a semi-tractor trailer, which he took without
permission from NAV Trucking, a small company in Livingston.
The investigation culminated with the seizure of
approximately USD 843,000 currency that Mann, his money
courier Dhaliwal, and a co-defendant Jasdev Singh delivered to
an undercover agent who had negotiated for the purchase of 70
kilograms of cocaine. Singh, 34, of Bakersfield, entered a
guilty plea to the drug conspiracy before the start of trial.
During negotiations between Mann, Singh and the
undercover agent, Mann indicated that during the past five
years he had shipped approximately 36,000 kilograms of cocaine
from Bakersfield to Canada.
In Canada, Mann's customers "cut" the product for
street sales. Mann claimed, "I'm the biggest there is." He
also offered to sell the undercover agent 50 kilogram buckets
of ephedrine (a precursor chemical used to manufacture
methamphetamine) for USD 33,000 a bucket and told the
undercover agent he smuggled the ephedrine into the US from
his native country of India.
The case has received extensive coverage in the Asian
and Canadian press, according to which Mann and Singh are
natives of Punjab's village of Gureh, and Dhaliwal, from the
neighboring village of Chimna, are considered modern day Robin
Hoods in their villages stemming from their philanthropy.
Mann, Dhaliwal and Bisla are scheduled to appear for
sentencing before District Judge Wanger on September 14, 2009.
Singh is scheduled to appear for sentencing on Aug 24, 2009.
PTI
Washington, July 2 (PTI) Three Indian-origin persons
have been convicted by a California court for their alleged
involvement in a massive cocaine smuggling operation and its
distribution to the Asian gang members in Toronto in Canada.
The Drug Enforcement Administration alleged that one
of them Harjeet Mann (50), a Canadian national residing in
Bakersfield, California, was leader of a cocaine smuggling
operation that transported large quantities of cocaine in
semi-tractor trailers to Canada for distribution to Asian gang
members in the Toronto area.
Sukhraj Dhaliwal (39) of Bakersfield and Gurmeet Bisla
(29) of Livingston have been charged for conspiring to
distribute and to possess with intent to distribute a large
quantity of cocaine.
Mann and Dhaliwal were convicted of attempting to
possess with intent to distribute 70 kilograms of cocaine
following their delivery of approximately USD 843,000 in cash
to an undercover narcotics agent.
The jury verdict in this regard was delivered by
Senior United States District Judge Oliver W Wanger last week.
He also ordered forfeiture of the seized USD 1,011,068
US currency that represented proceeds or monies used to
facilitate drug trafficking. In addition, USD 52,669 seized
from Mann's bank accounts was previously forfeited
administratively by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The DEA said that Bisla, a drug transporter for Mann,
was stopped in Sheldon, Illinois while carrying USD 169,910 of
drug proceeds in a semi-tractor trailer, which he took without
permission from NAV Trucking, a small company in Livingston.
The investigation culminated with the seizure of
approximately USD 843,000 currency that Mann, his money
courier Dhaliwal, and a co-defendant Jasdev Singh delivered to
an undercover agent who had negotiated for the purchase of 70
kilograms of cocaine. Singh, 34, of Bakersfield, entered a
guilty plea to the drug conspiracy before the start of trial.
During negotiations between Mann, Singh and the
undercover agent, Mann indicated that during the past five
years he had shipped approximately 36,000 kilograms of cocaine
from Bakersfield to Canada.
In Canada, Mann's customers "cut" the product for
street sales. Mann claimed, "I'm the biggest there is." He
also offered to sell the undercover agent 50 kilogram buckets
of ephedrine (a precursor chemical used to manufacture
methamphetamine) for USD 33,000 a bucket and told the
undercover agent he smuggled the ephedrine into the US from
his native country of India.
The case has received extensive coverage in the Asian
and Canadian press, according to which Mann and Singh are
natives of Punjab's village of Gureh, and Dhaliwal, from the
neighboring village of Chimna, are considered modern day Robin
Hoods in their villages stemming from their philanthropy.
Mann, Dhaliwal and Bisla are scheduled to appear for
sentencing before District Judge Wanger on September 14, 2009.
Singh is scheduled to appear for sentencing on Aug 24, 2009.
PTI
