Latest news with #ProjectPelican
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Indo-Canadian trucker caught with CA$25M in cocaine at Canada-US border
Toronto: An Indo-Canadian trucker has been arrested by law enforcement while allegedly attempting to smuggle in cocaine worth nearly CA$ 25 million. Bags containing the cocaine that was seized during an alleged attempt to smuggle them into the country by an Indo-Canadian trucker (CBSA) The arrest was announced on Thursday by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). In a release, it said that on July 23, a commercial truck arriving from the United States was referred for a secondary examination at the Blue Water Bridge port of entry. During the ensuing inspection, border services officers found seven bags containing bricks of suspected cocaine. The total weight of the suspected narcotics was 197 kg, with an estimated street value of CA$24.6 million. The person arrested was identified by CBSA as 29-year-old Onkar Kalsi, a resident of Caledon, in Ontario. He was transferred to the custody of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and charged with Importation of Cocaine, and Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking. 'This seizure by our dedicated border services officers demonstrates our commitment to stopping criminal activities and safeguarding our communities. Our message is clear: Canada will not tolerate any attempts to undermine the integrity and security of its borders,' Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree said. Between January 1 and July 10, 2025, the CBSA seized a total of 1,164 kg of cocaine originating from the US, alongside 514 kg from other countries combined, the statement added. This isn't the first instance where Indian-origin truckers have been arrested in connection with the alleged smuggling to drugs. On June 10, Peel Regional Police (PRP) announced what was described as the 'largest drug seizure' in the history of the region. That investigation, Project Pelican, led to the seizure of CA $50 million worth of cocaine. Police recovered 479 kg of bricked cocaine along with two illegal semi-automatic loaded handguns. Of those charged, six were Indo-Canadians. They were identified as Hao Tommy Huynh, a 27-year-old resident of Mississauga, Sajgith Yogendrarajah, 31, from Toronto, Manpreet Singh, 44, from Brampton, Philip Tep, 39, from Hamilton, Arvinder Powar, 29, from Brampton, Karamjit Singh, 36, from Caledon, Gurtej Singh, 36, from Caledon, Sartaj Singh 27, from Cambridge and Shiv Onkar Singh, 31, from Georgetown. In January 2024, law enforcement arrested another Indo-Canadian trucker, Komalpreet Sidhu. Resident of Winnipeg, for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs worth over CA$ 50 million into the country. That month, police announced that five persons including three Indo-Canadians were to be extradited to the US after a joint operation between Canadian and American law enforcement resulted in busting an alleged narcotics trafficking network. The operation, called Dead Hand, was undertaken between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit or CFSEU unit of the RCMP. They were identified as Ivan Gravel Gonzalez, 32, of Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Roberto Scoppa, 55, of Montréal, Ayush Sharma, 25, of Brampton, Guramrit Sidhu, 60, of Brampton and Subham Kumar, 29, of Calgary. On January 10, Canadian police announced they had arrested and charged 35-year-old Sukhwinder Dhanju, resident of Brampton in the Greater Toronto Area, for attempting to smuggle into the country cocaine worth approximately CA$ 6.5 million. On December 4, 2023, they caught Manpreet Singh, 27, a resident of Brampton, after the truck he was driving was found to be carrying boxes containing 52 kg of suspected cocaine.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Morning news wrap: Tripura man's body found in ice cream freezer, Trump unveils US 'Gold Card' website; and more
Denny generated AI images In the past 24 hours, a lot of things have happened in India and the United States. From Trump unveiling a new "gold card" website to violence erupting in Bengal to a cold-blooded murder story from Tripura. In West Bengal, Violence broke out near Rabindranagar Police Station over land ownership. And in Tripura, the police arrested six people for the alleged murder of a 24-year-old man whose body was found stuffed inside a refrigerator. Meanwhile, in Canada, Project Pelican has busted a big narco-terror network, and individuals suspected to be Khalistan sympathisers. In the US, Trump did two things: one, reducing its diplomatic and military presence in the Middle East and the second one is unveiling a new "gold card" website. Here are the top 5 stories: Tripura murder case : Man strangled, body found stuffed in refrigerator; doctor among 6 held In a shocking murder case from Tripura, six people, including a doctor and his parents, have been arrested for the alleged killing of 24-year-old Sariful Islam. The victim's body was found stuffed inside a refrigerator in Gandacherra. Police suspect the crime was motivated by a love triangle involving the doctor, Dibakar Saha, and Islam. The accused allegedly strangled Islam and hid his body before attempting to dispose of it with the help of Saha's parents. Read more Canada busts drug racket financing anti-India activities Canada's Peel Regional Police busted a narco-terror network linked to Khalistan sympathisers under "Project Pelican," seizing 479 kg of cocaine worth $47.9 million—the largest drug haul in the region. Nine suspects, including seven Indian-origin men, were arrested. The network allegedly used US-Canada trucking routes and had ties to Mexican cartels. Proceeds from the smuggling were reportedly funneled into anti-India activities, including funding protests, referendums, and weapons procurement. Read more US is pulling troops from parts of Middle East; Trump's Iran strike threat in focus US President Donald Trump has ordered the withdrawal of troops from the Middle East amid stalled nuclear talks with Iran and rising regional tensions. The State Department has also directed nonessential staff to leave embassies in Baghdad, Bahrain, and Kuwait, citing safety concerns. The US military approved the voluntary departure of dependents from key locations. As nuclear negotiations face uncertainty, Iran has rejected military threats, while the IAEA considers new censure measures that could reignite sanctions. Read more Violent clash breaks out in West Bengal: Cops injured, vehicles set on fire, security heightened Violence erupted in Maheshtala's Rabindranagar-Akra area over a land dispute, leading to clashes between locals and police. Five officers, including DC (Port) Harikrishna Pai, were injured, while vehicles were damaged and torched. Police used lathicharge and tear gas to disperse the mob. Tensions flared after a 'tulsi mancha' was built on land claimed by a minority trader. Political leaders traded blame, with BJP demanding central forces' deployment, while TMC downplayed broader law and order concerns. Read more Who can apply, eligibility; all you need to know about Trump's 'Gold Card' Former US President Donald Trump has launched the "Gold Card" program, offering foreigners a pathway to US citizenship for $5 million. The waiting list for the card—featuring Trump's photo, signature, and golden design—is now open via an official website. The initiative, seen as a replacement for the EB-5 investor visa, aims to attract wealthy individuals willing to invest in the US. Eligibility details remain unclear, but the program promises priority access to applicants once fully operational. Read more
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Time of India
Project Pelican: Canada police busts drug racket financing anti-India activities, arrest nine
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Peel Regional Police in Canada undertook Project Pelican to bust a large nacro-terror network based out of the country. Individuals suspected to be Khalistan sympethisers have been caught, ToI operation led to the largest ever drug seizure in Canada with 479 kg of cocaine valued at $47.9 million. Further, nine people, including seven Indian-origin men settled in Canada have been investigation found that the network used commercial trucking routes from the US to Canada and had ties with Mexican cartels and US-based distributors, the Peel police money from the drugs was being used to finance anti-India activities , including protests and referendums besides funding for weapons, sources told reported that intelligence sources pointed towards an ISI-backed plan where Khalistani groups in Canada are being funded to traffic high value Mexican cocaine. The ISI has also been been accused of pushing Afghan-grown arrested men include Sajgith Yogendrarajah, 31, of Toronto; Manpreet Singh, 44, of Brampton; Philip Tep, 39, of Hamilton; Arvinder Powar, 29, of Brampton; Karamjit Singh, 36, of Caledon; Gurtej Singh, 36, of Caledon; Sartaj Singh, 27, of Cambridge; Shiv Onkar Singh, 31, of Georgetown and Hao Tommy Huynh, a 27-year-old from accused face a total of 35 charges related to firearm and drug offences, the Canadian police December 2024, two Canadian nationals of Indian origin were arrested when US Illinois State Police found over 1,000 pounds of cocaine in their Volvo truck. This alerted the investigators to the smuggling ring involving ISI which promoted illegal poppy cultivation in Afghanistan to help Taliban fight the US and Afghan under Operation Pelican began in June last year and focussed on a cocaine smuggling racket using US-Canada commercial trucking November, multiple individuals, trucking companies, and storage sites linked to the operation were identified with the help of Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the US Drug Enforcement February and May this year, significant seizures were made, including 127 kg of cocaine at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor and 50 kg at the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward, the Peel police said in a seizures were made across the Greater Toronto area, with some individuals arrested in possession of loaded firearms."A total of 479 kg of bricked cocaine, worth an estimated $47.9 million, was seized, along with two illegal loaded semi-automatic handguns. The accused were held for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton," the Peel police S Kerzner, solicitor general of Ontario, praised the operation, stating, "Project Pelican is proof of what police can accomplish when they have the tools and resources needed to keep our communities safe."
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First Post
12-06-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Project Pelican: Canada cracks down on drug trafficking network linked to anti-India activities
Canadian police have uncovered a major drug and terror network with suspected Khalistan links in a major operation named Project Pelican. The crackdown led to the country's largest-ever cocaine seizure, with nine people arrested for smuggling and funding anti-India activities. read more Mark Carney, Canada's Prime Minister, called for the April 28 election in March. Reuters/File Photo In a major crackdown, Canadian police have busted a large drug and terror network with suspected links to Khalistan supporters. Called Project Pelican, the investigation by Peel Regional Police led to Canada's biggest-ever drug seizure – 479 kg of cocaine worth $47.9 million. Nine people, including seven Indian-origin men living in Canada, have been arrested. According to police, the group used commercial trucking routes between the US and Canada, with connections to Mexican drug cartels and US-based distributors. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sources said money from the drug trade was being used to fund anti-India activities like protests, referendums, and weapons purchases. Intelligence agencies suspect Pakistan's ISI is backing the network, using Khalistani groups in Canada to smuggle Mexican cocaine and Afghan heroin. Those arrested include Sajgith Yogendrarajah (31), Manpreet Singh (44), Philip Tep (39), Arvinder Powar (29), Karamjit Singh (36), Gurtej Singh (36), Sartaj Singh (27), Shiv Onkar Singh (31), and Hao Tommy Huynh (27). This is a developing story.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Time of India
Project Pelican: Canada busts drug racket financing anti-India activities
NEW DELHI: Project Pelican, a major investigation conducted by Peel Regional Police, has busted a big narco-terror network based out of Canada and individuals suspected to be Khalistan sympathisers. While the operation led to the largest ever drug seizure there with 479 kg of cocaine valued at $47.9 million, nine individuals including seven Indian-origin men settled in Canada have been arrested. The investigation has revealed that the network exploited commercial trucking routes from the US to Canada, with ties to Mexican cartels and US-based distributors, the Peel police said. The proceeds from drug trafficking were being used to finance anti-India activities, including protests and referendums besides funding for weapons, sources said. Intelligence sources pointed towards an ISI-backed plan where Khalistani groups in Canada are being funded to traffick high value Mexican cocaine. The ISI has also been been found pushing Afghan-grown heroin. The arrested men include Sajgith Yogendrarajah, 31, of Toronto; Manpreet Singh, 44, of Brampton; Philip Tep, 39, of Hamilton; Arvinder Powar, 29, of Brampton; Karamjit Singh, 36, of Caledon; Gurtej Singh, 36, of Caledon; Sartaj Singh, 27, of Cambridge; Shiv Onkar Singh, 31, of Georgetown and Hao Tommy Huynh, a 27-year-old from Mississauga. They face a total of 35 charges related to firearm and drug offences, the Canadian police said. Last Dec, two Canadian nationals of Indian origin were arrested when US Illinois State Police found over 1,000 pounds of cocaine in their Volvo truck: something which alerted the investigators to the smuggling ring involving ISI which patronised illegal poppy cultivation in Afghanistan to help Taliban fight the US and Afghan troops. The current investigation began in June 2024, focusing on a cocaine smuggling operation using US-Canada commercial trucking routes. By Nov, multiple individuals, trucking companies, and storage sites linked to the operation were identified with the help of Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the US Drug Enforcement Administration. Significant seizures were made between Feb and May 2025, including 127 kg of cocaine at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor and 50 kg at the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward, the Peel police said in a statement. Additional seizures were made across the Greater Toronto area, with some individuals arrested in possession of loaded firearms. "A total of 479 kg of bricked cocaine, worth an estimated $47.9 million, was seized, along with two illegal loaded semi-automatic handguns. The accused were held for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton," the Peel police said. Michael S Kerzner, solicitor general of Ontario, praised the operation, stating, "Project Pelican is proof of what police can accomplish when they have the tools and resources needed to keep our communities safe."
