After an extensive, long-term investigation, Calgary’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU- Calgary) and the Calgary RCMP Integrated Proceeds of Crime (IPOC) Unit have arrested a number of people in connection with an ongoing criminal organization investigation with ties to Rocky View County (RVC).
On May 18, after receiving information about a group believed to be trafficking cocaine and marijuana in the Calgary region, the CFSEU-Calgary and IPOC executed search warrants at eight separate locations and seized 2.7 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of $270,000 and one kilogram of marijuana worth $10,000.
In addition to drugs, there were also a number of weapons seized including one handgun, one shotgun and a conducted energy device (taser).
The group, which is believed to have ties to British Columbia’s Lower Mainland, were also in possession of a property in RVC valued at $1.5 million.
The property was searched and approximately $166,000 in cash, $18,000 in jewelry, and seven vehicles with a combined value of $110,000 were seized.
Parvinder Singh Bagri, 24; Kalwarn Singh Dhillon, 23; Apraj Singh Bassi, 22; and Keerit Singh Brar, 20, were charged with multiple counts of criminal organization, conspiracy, drug trafficking, firearms and proceeds of crime-related offences.
While Bagri is a resident of Rocky View, the other three accused are from the Lower Mainland.
Upon further investigation, five more individuals were charged, each with one count of laundering the proceeds of crime and possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000.
Those charged were Parvinder Bagri, 24, from Rocky View; Rajvinder Bagri, 22, from Rocky View; Gurdawar Bagri, 50, from Rocky View; Jatinder Bagri, 52, from Rocky View; and Kanwal Gill, 36, from Chestermere.
“The average Albertan may not realize how their lives are impacted every day by organized crime,” said CFSEU-Calgary officer-in-charge Gerry Francois.
“From the more obvious, like violence in the community, to the less obvious, like increased utility and bank fees, as institutions try to regain losses associated with fraud, there are countless ways our lives are touched by this criminal activity.”
