Mother and sons arrested: Five Punjabis linked to arms and drugs smuggling in Canada

Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): Canadian authorities have arrested five individuals of Punjabi origin, including a woman and her two sons, for alleged arms and drug smuggling. The accused are Brampton residents Narinder Kaur Nagra, 61, along with her sons Navdeep Nagra, 20, and Ravneet Nagra, 22. They were joined by two other suspects, Ranveer Araich, 20, and Pavneet Nahal, 21. Collectively, they face approximately 160 charges.

The investigation began in July when traffic police recovered a firearm from a 20-year-old, prompting further inquiries. Between July and September, the Peel Regional Police's Specialized Enforcement Bureau launched “Project Sledgehammer” to target a group suspected of drug trafficking within the Region of Peel and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). This culminated in September with five residential search warrants executed with assistance from various police agencies, leading to the arrests and the recovery of significant illegal items.

Authorities confiscated 11 firearms, 32 prohibited magazines, over 900 rounds of ammunition, and 53 Glock selector switches, along with a quantity of drugs. Chief Nishan Duraiappah emphasized that the proliferation of illegal firearms poses a serious threat to community safety, as violent offenders exploit this access. He praised the police force's dedication, noting that 2024 has seen record-breaking successes in investigations and arrests related to violent crimes.