The arrested include Ravi Shanker, 56-year-old from the City of Brampton, Gurinder Bedi, 52-year-old from the City of Brampton, Bhupinder Raja, 64-year-old from the City of Brampton, Azadali Damani, 63-year-old from the City of Kitchener, Darshan Bedi, 71-year-old from the City of Woodstock, Darshan Bedi, 71-year-old from the City of Woodstock, Satnarine Ori, 35-year-old from the City of Brampton, Sukhveer Brar, 28-year-old from the City of Brampton, Gurpreet Dhillon, 39-year-old from the City of Brampton, Dilbag Aujla, 70-year-old from the City of Brampton,  and Karan Ghuman, 44-year-old from the City of Brampton. The investigation revealed that the criminal activity was taking place in Peel Region, the GTA and south-western Ontario. This investigation exposed criminal connections to the United States and as far reaching as Pakistan.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

TORONTO  – Ten Indo-Canadians from Ontario, largely from Toronto suburb of Brampton,  were arrested and 80 charges were laid following an eight-month-long Joint Forces Operation led by Peel Regional Police.

The arrested include Ravi Shanker, 56-year-old from the City of Brampton, Gurinder Bedi, 52-year-old from the City of Brampton, Bhupinder Raja, 64-year-old from the City of Brampton, Azadali Damani, 63-year-old from the City of Kitchener, Darshan Bedi, 71-year-old from the City of Woodstock, Darshan Bedi, 71-year-old from the City of Woodstock, Satnarine Ori, 35-year-old from the City of Brampton, Sukhveer Brar, 28-year-old from the City of Brampton, Gurpreet Dhillon, 39-year-old from the City of Brampton, Dilbag Aujla, 70-year-old from the City of Brampton,  and Karan Ghuman, 44-year-old from the City of Brampton.

In the fall of 2017, members of Peel Regional Police Intelligence Services began the investigation.  It focused on a group of individuals who were operating within the Region of Peel and were involved in a number of criminal offences including drug trafficking and importation, the trafficking of stolen property and fraud.

The investigation revealed that the criminal activity was taking place in Peel Region, the GTA and south-western Ontario. This investigation exposed criminal connections to the United States and as far reaching as Pakistan.

“These arrests exemplify the excellent work our officers are doing to take drugs off the street and to put criminals behind bars. I want to thank Peel Regional Police investigators and all the member agencies for their involvement in this project. Criminal operations today are borderless, and the partnerships we have are vital to our success,” said Chief Jennifer Evans.

On Thursday, August 30, 2018, eight (8) simultaneous search warrants were executed across the province of Ontario resulting in the following arrests and charges:

Ravi Shanker, 56-year-old from the City of Brampton was charged with

 

 

Importation of Heroin

Trafficking Opioids

Possession of Opioids for the Purpose of Trafficking

Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (3 counts)

Possession of Property for the Purpose of Trafficking (4 counts)

Trafficking in Stolen Goods Over $5000 (3 counts)

Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence

Fraud Over $5000

Drive While Disqualified

 

Gurinder Bedi, 52-year-old from the City of Brampton was charged with

Importation of Heroin

Trafficking Opioids

Possession of Opioids for the Purpose of Trafficking (4 counts)

Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (5 counts)

Possession of Property for the Purpose of Trafficking (4 counts)

Trafficking in Stolen Goods Over $5000 (2 counts)

Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence

Fraud Over $5000

 

Bhupinder Raja, 64-year-old from the City of Brampton was charged with

Importation of Heroin

Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (3 counts)

Possession of Property for the Purpose of Trafficking (4 counts)

Trafficking in Stolen Goods Over $5000 (3 counts)

Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence

 

Azadali Damani, 63-year-old from the City of Kitchener was charged with

Importation of Heroin

Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence

Drive While Disqualified

 

Darshan Bedi, 71-year-old from the City of Woodstock was charged with

Fraud Over $5000

 

Satnarine Ori, 35-year-old from the City of Brampton was charged with

Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (6 counts)

Possession of Property for the Purpose of Trafficking (4 counts)

Trafficking in Stolen Goods Over $5000 (3 counts)

Theft Over $5000

 

Sukhveer Brar, 28-year-old from the City of Brampton was charged with

Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

Trafficking in Stolen Goods Under $5000

 

Gurpreet Dhillon, 39-year-old from the City of Brampton was charged with

Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (4 counts)

Possession of Property for the Purpose of Trafficking (4 counts)

 

Dilbag Aujla, 70-year-old from the City of Brampton was charged with

Possession of Opioids for the Purpose of Trafficking

 

Karan Ghuman, 44-year-old from the City of Brampton was charged with

Possession of Opioid

Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

Possession of Property for the Purpose of Trafficking

 

This investigation resulted in the recovery and seizure of the following property:

 
 

 

2.6 kilograms of Opium with a street value of $65,000,

1.4 kilograms of Heroin with a street value of $140,000,

17 grams of Methamphetamine with a street value of $1,700,

One kilogram of marihuana with a street value of $4,500,

$4.5 million of stolen tractor trailer cargo

$50,000 in Canadian currency. 

Given the complexity of the operation, Peel Regional Police investigators partnered with 13 other police organizations and other agencies to create a Joint Forces Operation. Investigators want to thank the agencies who assisted and extend a special thanks to the following:

Waterloo Regional Police Service

Halton Regional Police Service

York Regional Police Service

Toronto Police Service

Woodstock Police Service

RCMP

Ontario Provincial Police Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit

Hamilton Police Service

Canada Border Services Agency

Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada

Insurance Bureau of Canada

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

Anyone with any information in relation to this investigation is asked to contact Peel Regional Police Intelligence Services at 905-453-2121, ext. 8800. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or by visiting peelcrimestoppers.