The RCMP and Canadian Border Services Agency dropped a bit of a bomb shell on British Columbians today, with the announcement of the arrest of a Surrey based Border guard, who seemingly had crossed over to the dark side when it comes to keeping guard on Canada’s border.
The thirteen month investigation into the happenings at the Pacific Border crossing in Surrey, found that Border guard Baljinder Kandola, 35, allegedly used his position to allow shipments of guns and drugs to proceed into Canada
On Thursday morning, the border guard and two other men were arrested after police found restricted handguns, cash and 208 kilograms of cocaine worth $6 million inside two vehicles.
It’s the second bout of bad publicity that the Border Services Agency has suffered in the last few months. CBSA members recently made news when inappropriate remarks and less than flattering pictures made on the Facebook social network were made public.
At the time some critics of the Agency suggested that the use of part time students for border security left the Agency in peril of potential problems.
The thirteen month investigation into the happenings at the Pacific Border crossing in Surrey, found that Border guard Baljinder Kandola, 35, allegedly used his position to allow shipments of guns and drugs to proceed into Canada
On Thursday morning, the border guard and two other men were arrested after police found restricted handguns, cash and 208 kilograms of cocaine worth $6 million inside two vehicles.
It’s the second bout of bad publicity that the Border Services Agency has suffered in the last few months. CBSA members recently made news when inappropriate remarks and less than flattering pictures made on the Facebook social network were made public.
At the time some critics of the Agency suggested that the use of part time students for border security left the Agency in peril of potential problems.
Those and other concerns have left more than a few wondering aloud about the state of Canada’s borders, considering the latest developments out of Surrey they may have more to worry about than even they thought!
B.C. border guard busted on drugs and weapons charges
2 other men also arrested at Surrey crossing
2 other men also arrested at Surrey crossing
CBC News
Friday, October 26, 2007
RCMP have arrested a border guard in Surrey, B.C, alleging that he used his position to allow cocaine and guns to be smuggled across the Canada-U.S. border.
As part of a 13-month investigation, the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency have been closely watching the Pacific Highway Border crossing in Surrey. On Thursday morning, a border guard and two other men were arrested after police found restricted handguns, cash and 208 kilograms of cocaine worth $6 million inside two vehicles.
"This operation began after information was received that a border officer was a key figure in a criminal enterprise," Insp. Dan Malo, who's in charge of the investigation, said Friday.
"Nobody in Canada smuggles this quantity of cocaine without being involved in organized crime."
Police allege that two luxury SUVs were allowed to pass through a commercial inspection booth without examination.
Other border guards were disheartened by the news that one of their own had been arrested, said Kim Scoville, director of the CBSA's Pacific Highway District.
"It's a sense of betrayal they're experiencing and it is something that we take seriously," he said.
Border guard Baljinder Kandola, 35, and two other Richmond men, Shminder Johal, 34, and Herman Riar, 26, are all charged with importing cocaine to Canada, possession for the purposes of trafficking, conspiracy to import cocaine, as well as importing restricted firearms. Kandola is also charged with breach of trust and bribery.
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