Conspiracy against India was being hatched in Canada, ISI-Khalistani supporter arrested; Drugs worth 50 million dollars seized:

News Topical, Digital Desk : Narco-terrorist network and pro-Khalistani individuals have been busted in Canada. Canada's Peel Police has made the biggest drug seizure so far while taking action under Project Pelican.

Police have seized 479 kg of cocaine worth $47.9 million. Peel police have arrested 9 people including seven Indian-origin people settled in Canada.

How did the accused do their business?

Peel police said the investigation revealed the network exploited commercial trucking routes from the U.S. to Canada and had ties to Mexican cartels and U.S.-based distributors.

Peel police said a total of 479 kilograms of bricked cocaine, worth an estimated $47.9 million, was seized, as well as two illegal loaded semi-automatic handguns. The accused were arraigned for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton.

Praise for Project Pelican

Ontario Solicitor General Michael S. Kerzner praised the operation, saying "Project Pelican is proof of what police can achieve when they have the tools and resources they need to keep our people safe."

According to sources, the money earned from drug trafficking was being used for anti-India activities, including organising protests and gatherings of people, besides funding arms deals.

Intelligence sources have pointed to an ISI-backed scheme to fund the smuggling of high-value Mexican cocaine to Khalistani groups in Canada.

Who all got arrested?

Sajith Yogendrarajah, 31, of Toronto
Manpreet Singh, 44, of Bampton
Philip Tapp, 39, of Hamilton
Arvinder Powar, 29, of Brampton
Gurtej Singh, 36, of Caledon
Sartaj Singh, 27, of Cambridge
Shiv Omkar, 31, of Georgetown
Hao Tommy Huynh, 27, of Mississauga

There were arrests last year too

Last December, two Canadian citizens of Indian origin were arrested after Illinois police in the US recovered more than 1,000 pounds of cocaine from their Volvo truck.

This led investigators to links to the ISI, which was patronising illegal opium cultivation in Afghanistan to help the Taliban fight US and Afghan troops.