Parvinder Singh Bagri, 24, of Rocky View, and B.C. residents Kalwarn Singh Dhillon, 23, Apraj Singh Bassi, 22, and Keerit Singh Brar, 20, face multiple drug trafficking, firearm, criminal organization and proceeds of crime charges. Rajvinder Bagri, 22, Gurdawar Bagri, 50, and Jatinder Bagri, 52, all of Rocky View, and Kanwal Gill, 36, of Chestermere face charges of laundering the proceeds of crime. Officers seized 2.7 kilograms of cocaine valued at $270,000, one kilogram of marijuana valued at $10,000, guns, $166,000 in cash, seven vehicles and jewellery worth more than $18,000.
CALGARY – Eight Indo-Canadian men are facing more than 100 charges in connection with an organized crime bust near Calgary. Parvinder Singh Bagri, 24, of Rocky View, and B.C. residents Kalwarn Singh Dhillon, 23, Apraj Singh Bassi, 22, and Keerit Singh Brar, 20, face multiple drug trafficking, firearm, criminal organization and proceeds of crime charges.
Rajvinder Bagri, 22, Gurdawar Bagri, 50, and Jatinder Bagri, 52, all of Rocky View, and Kanwal Gill, 36, of Chestermere face charges of laundering the proceeds of crime. Parvinder Bagri is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 2 in Calgary.
City police and a special RCMP unit began an investigation after getting information about a drug trafficking ring in the area with connections to B.C.'s Lower Mainland, reported CBC News.
"The average Albertan may not realize how their lives are impacted every day by organized crime," said Gerry Francois, officer in charge of Calgary's Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit.
"From the more obvious like violence in the community, to the less obvious like increased utility and bank fees as institutions try to regain losses associated with fraud, there are countless ways our lives are touched by this criminal activity." Search warrants were executed at eight separate locations in the Calgary area.
Officers seized 2.7 kilograms of cocaine valued at $270,000, one kilogram of marijuana valued at $10,000, guns, $166,000 in cash, seven vehicles and jewellery worth more than $18,000. As well, a $1.5-million-dollar home in Rocky View County is now under a crime restraint order.
Police say at 24, Parvinder Singh Bagri enjoyed a comfortable life on the outskirts of Calgary, living mortgage-free in a $1.5-million home with a six-car garage and luxury cars for his cohorts. For several years, the young Bagri and three others from the Lower Mainland sold B.C. drugs in and around Calgary.
It's alleged the group then paid off Bagri's brother, parents and girlfriend to take ownership of the items they purchased, in an effort to hide the vast profits made by selling drugs, reported the Calgary Herald.
Police continue to try to connect the money gained from drug sales and its use to purchase items with the proceeds of crime.
"We've also employed a forensic accountant to do that, too." said RCMP Calgary integrated proceeds of crime Sgt. Stephen Scott. "It's very detailed and it takes quite a bit of time to go over," he said.
Investigators believe this group is not a member of any established gang, but say in the drug trade there are often loose associations with street gangs. Scott said the seizure is one of the largest in recent years.
Mount Royal University criminologist Doug King said it can be difficult for police to prove proceeds of crimes charges in court. "There is still a tremendous amount of forensic accounting that has to be done to actually prove it in a court of law," he said.
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