By Sandhya Sharma
In what could be seen as the biggest vindication of India’s long-standing stance that Canada is struggling to deal with transnational crime groups from Punjab, the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) has busted a drug “superlab” in Falkland, B.C., worth nearly US$490 million, run by a Punjab-origin mastermind, allegedly having Khalistani connections.
The alleged mastermind, Gaganpreet Singh Randhawa, 32, who is currently in Canadian Police custody, has been charged with seven drugs and firearms-related offenses under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Criminal Code of Canada.
Meanwhile, Indian government sources hinted at Randhawa’s links with Khalistan sympathizers in Canada. They pointed out that this news seems to have vindicated New Delhi’s earlier “extradition” requests of many other pro-Khalistani sympathizers who have been working right under the Canadian government’s nose and are linked to transnational criminal activity across the globe.
In a written statement, Corporal Arash Seyed, Media Relations Officer of the Federal Policing at the Pacific Region, says this RCMP investigation has delivered a “decisive blow” to a major “transnational organized crime” group by dismantling the largest and “most sophisticated” fentanyl and methamphetamine “drug superlab” in Canada.
The drug superlab could have produced over 95 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl to kill the Canadian population twice over. The police raid will dent the profit of US$485 million to the transnational organized crime group.
Hinting at the RCMP’s inability to deal with organized criminals, Kirk Lubimov, a Canadian political analyst, said on social media platform X: “Having compromised borders and 1/3 of our trucking industry being black market has consequences.”
How Did This All Begin?
On October 25, RCMP Federal investigators conducted a series of coordinated enforcement actions across Vancouver and executed search warrants on a massive drug superlab in Falkland, BC, and associated locations in the city of Surrey, BC.
Federal investigators seized 54 kg of fentanyl, massive amounts of precursor chemicals, 390 kg of methamphetamine, 35 kg of cocaine, 15 kg of MDMA, and 6 kg of cannabis.
In addition to the massive quantities of drugs and precursor chemicals, investigators seized a total of 89 firearms, which included 45 handguns, 21 AR-15-style rifles, and submachine guns, many of which were loaded and ready for use.
To date, nine of these guns have been identified as stolen. The raids also yielded small explosive devices, large amounts of ammunition, firearm silencers, high-capacity magazines, body armor, and $500,000 in cash.
Inspector Jillian Wellard, Officer in Charge of Federal Policing Pacific Region, Drugs and Organized Crime, said, “This is undoubtedly a major blow to the transnational organized crime groups involved.”
The arrest of Punjab origin Randhawa by RCMP echoes Indian Foreign Minister Dr. S Jaishankar’s warning to Canada that several “gangland” people with organized crime links from Punjab have been welcomed in Canada, and it is bound to create trouble there.
Unholy Nexus
The diplomatic relationship between Canada and India has taken a nosedive during the last year due to the controversy over the shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the mastermind of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) in Surrey, Canada. New Delhi maintains Nijjar was a terrorist; however, denies any involvement in his killing.
New Delhi has time and again pointed to multiple pending extradition requests to Justin Trudeau’s government to hand over pro-Khalistani terrorists who are taking shelter in Canada and have been involved in various drug and criminal gang activities.
Sources point out that Randhawa’s arrest will hopefully force Canada to become more vigilant and heed India’s 26 extradition requests.
The Hidden Chinese Link To Canada?
Sources also hint at the funding received by such Indian-origin drug peddlers and criminals from China right under the nose of the current Trudeau Government. A recent United States Congressional Report explains how the Fentanyl precursors are manufactured in China and shipped to Mexico and Canada.
It points to how the Chinese Communist Party-affiliated staff works behind the scenes to distribute it in countries like Canada and the U.S. Interestingly, the United States has openly blamed China. However, Canada is still to come to terms with the reality of the Chinese links to drug lab cases.
Daniel Bordman, Senior Correspondent with The National Telegraph in Canada, told Eurasian Times, “If you go by the history of these recent drug busting cases, there seems to be a Khalistani element present in the organized crimes as such. I won’t be surprised if CCP is also involved at some level in such high-scale drug labs.”
In October 2022, three Punjab-origin men were arrested in a large drug bust in Toronto. In February this year, three Indian-origin Punjabi men were arrested in Canada and extradited to the United States for their alleged links with a network trafficking drugs between Mexico and North American countries as part of a joint operation between the FBI and RCMP.
The Bottomline
The recent statement by Captain Amarinder Singh, former CM of Punjab, on the current Indo-Canadian ties has highlighted the bipartisan concerns in India on Canada’s approach to “sikh extremism” and blamed Trudeau for turning a “blind eye” and patronizing such militant groups to enhance his own political image.
Kushal Mehra, Author and host of The Cavaka Podcast from Canada, told the Eurasian Times, “A lot of this is the Trudeau government’s vote-bank politics. In my opinion, a lot of free hand has been given to Kahalistani sympathizers.”
Recently, while responding to a question during a joint press briefing with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong in Canberra, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar commented that the recent temple attack in Canada shows how “political space is given to extremist forces” in Canada.
Meanwhile, Canada responded by blocking “Australia Today” from covering the press conference between the two leaders.
Some Canadian lawmakers have also voiced opposition to Trudeau’s partisan politics.
“Under Justin Trudeau, Canada has become a safe haven for extremists, and Canadians are paying the price,” Kevin Vuong, Canadian MP, tweeted after the recent attack on Hindu temple in Brampton, Canada.
Experts believe the time has now come for Canada to work closely with India and clean up its act on Canada-based pro-Khalistan militancy, which is causing more harm to Trudeau by denting the law and order situation in Canada itself.
With gang wars and shootings becoming commonplace in Canada lately, especially in British Columbia (B.C.), blaming India for its domestic law and order situation wouldn’t help Canada in the long run.
- By: Sandhya Sharma
- The author has been covering strategic affairs for over a decade. She has also worked on foreign affairs and defense with NDTV, The Pioneer, Economic Times, and ANI/Reuters.
- Mail EurAsian Times at editor (at) eurasiantimes.com
