NCB Launches Major Raids in Amritsar Targeting Canadian Drug Kingpin's Properties
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has initiated extensive searches at two separate premises located in Amritsar, Punjab. These locations are directly linked to a Canadian national of Punjabi origin, who stands accused of being a "key player" in large-scale drug trafficking networks. The operations involve the manufacture and smuggling of dangerous substances, including cocaine, ketamine, methamphetamine, and hash oil, across Punjab and several other Indian states.
Ongoing Searches at Ancestral and City Locations
NCB officials commenced the raids on Tuesday evening, and the searches were still actively underway as of Wednesday evening. The targeted premises are situated in two distinct areas: one in the ancestral village of Rajasansi and another in Sandhu Colony within Amritsar city. This crackdown coincides with a significant development—the parents of the accused, Amrinder Singh Chhina, also known as Laddi Cheena, are currently visiting India after a prolonged absence, having arrived towards the end of the previous year.
Historical Criminal Background and International Connections
Amrinder Singh Chhina has a long-standing history with law enforcement agencies. In 2015, he was among eleven Punjabi non-resident Indians against whom the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) issued red-corner notices. This action was taken at the request of Punjab Police in connection with the multi-crore Jagdish Bhola drug racket, which was originally unearthed by Punjab Police. Chhina is reported to have collaborated with Jimi Sandhu, alias Slice, in the past. Both individuals were co-accused in the same drug racket alongside Bhola.
The case took a dramatic turn when Jimi Sandhu was shot dead outside a hotel in Phuket, Thailand, on February 4, 2022. Law enforcement agencies attributed this killing to a feud between gangs involved in illicit drug trade. Sandhu, an alleged member of the ‘United Nations Gang’ based in Vancouver, had grown up in Abbotsford, Canada. He had been deported to India in 2016 due to serious criminal activities. Following his deportation and prior to his murder, Sandhu was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in 2018 from Haryana in a significant drugs case, which led to approximately a dozen arrests.
Previous Drug Seizures and Manufacturing Operations
During the 2018 DRI operation, authorities seized a large quantity of ketamine along with other narcotics such as cocaine, hashish, and opium. Sandhu reportedly obtained bail in that case and was known to be a frequent traveler to Thailand. According to DRI investigations, Sandhu owned a factory in Goa where two British nationals were involved in preparing ketamine-based drugs. These substances were subsequently smuggled to Canada, Punjab, and various other locations.
International Murder Case and Extradition
In a related international development, a former Canadian soldier named Mathew Dupre was arrested on February 20, 2022, in Canada upon his return from Thailand. He was later extradited to Thailand in May 2023. In 2024, Dupre pleaded guilty to his involvement in the murder of Jimi Sandhu, further highlighting the global reach and violent nature of these drug networks.
The current NCB raids in Amritsar represent a critical step in dismantling these sophisticated drug trafficking operations, emphasizing the ongoing efforts by Indian authorities to combat organized crime with international linkages.
