Weed, helicopters and the US Border: 4 GTA men now charged after drug smuggling ring exposed

By Laura Carney

Four GTA men have been charged by the RCMP for smuggling weed across the Canada-US border using a helicopter.

This stems from a 16 month joint investigation between US homeland security, the RCMP, and the OPP.

Police issued six search warrants in the GTA and Quebec and seized over 800 plants and dried cannabis, and about 400 grams of suspected cocaine.

The RCMP says on several occasions the group used a helicopter to fly the illegally grown weed across the border.

Also seized: Suspected restricted and prohibited handguns, but police say they’re still trying to figure out the origin of the weapons.

The four men, from Vaughan, Burlington, East Gwillimbury, and Woodbridge are so far only charged with drug related offences, including conspiracy to commit the unlawful export of cannabis, possession of cannabis for the purpose of exporting it and cultivating cannabis not at a dwelling house.

  • Kamal Deep Bassan, 36 years of age, from Vaughan, Ontario;
  • Ramindejit Assi, 25 years if age, from Burlington, Ontario;
  • Derek Chi-Yeung Ng, 40 years of age, from East Gwillimbury, Ontario; and
  • Parmjot Saini, 30 years of age, from Woodbridge, Ontario.

 

“The success of the investigation is due to the diligent efforts of the RCMP officers, analysts, and the efforts of our partners, specifically U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Air and Marine Operations, the U.S. Border Patrol and the Ontario Provincial Police – Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team. The RCMP continues to be committed to combatting Transnational Organized Crime and keeping our citizens safe by removing illicit commodities off the streets and out of the hands of these group,” stated Inspector Ann Koenig, RCMP Hamilton-Niagara Regional Detachment.

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