Woman, her 2 sons among 5 Punjabis arrested for arms and drugs smuggling in Canada
Canada Police have arrested five persons of Punjabi origin, including a woman and her two sons, for alleged arms and drug smuggling.
As per a media brief by the Peel Regional Police, the accused include Brampton residents Narinder Kaur Nagra, 61, and her two sons, Navdeep Nagra, 20, and Ravneet Nagra 22, along with Ranveer Araich, 20, and Pavneet Nahal, 21. They face about 160 violation charges.
The release said that the arrests began with recovery of a gun from a 20-year-old man by the traffic police in July this year, which led to further investigation.
Between July and September, officers from the Specialized Enforcement Bureau conducted ‘Project Sledgehammer’, an investigation targeting a group suspected of drug trafficking in the Region of Peel and across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), it added.
In September, investigators with the assistance of the Peel Regional Police, Waterloo Regional Police, York Regional Police and RCMP conducted five residential search warrants in the GTA, resulting in arrest of the five accused with nearly 160 charges laid and recovery of 11 firearms, 32 prohibited magazines, over 900 rounds of ammunition, 53 Glock selector switches and a quantity of drugs.
“The widespread availability of illegal firearms represents an immediate and serious threat to the safety of our community. Violent offenders are exploiting this access, fueling a dangerous cycle of crime that puts every resident at risk. We remain resolute in our mission to disrupt and dismantle these criminal networks, deploying significant resources to combat this issue.
“In 2024, we have achieved unprecedented success, with record-breaking investigations, arrests, and charges related to violent crimes. I want to extend my deepest appreciation to all our officers for their relentless dedication and exceptional work in this investigation,” said Chief Nishan Duraiappah.
