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Well-known alleged Vancouver gang leader arrested in the U.S. for wide-scale drug bust
Well-known alleged Vancouver gang leader arrested in the U.S. for wide-scale drug bust

Global News

time7 hours ago

  • Global News

Well-known alleged Vancouver gang leader arrested in the U.S. for wide-scale drug bust

Vancouver has long been known as a hub of criminal drug trafficking and new U.S. court documents are shedding some light on how the trade works. According to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court, Surrey gangster Opinder Singh Sian was at the centre of a vast conspiracy to import precursor chemicals from China and export narcotics through the port of Los Angeles to Australia. Sian was well known in Vancouver organized crime circles. He was linked to the Brothers Keepers and survived a shooting in 2008, as well as another in 2011. In 2022, he became involved in a plot originating in Ankara, Turkey. According to court documents, a special agent with the DEA's High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Group 48 (HIDTA 48), which investigates large-scale drug trafficking organizations, was brought in to investigate the drug trafficking. Story continues below advertisement Around June 2022, the group received a lead from its Turkey office about an opportunity to insert a confidential source to play the role of an international transportation coordinator in a drug trafficking organization to transport drugs from Southern California to Australia and other destinations. This person then had a phone conversation with a member of the drug trafficking organization in Turkey and then with Sian. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy They arranged four drop-offs of methamphetamine to the confidential source in Southern California for shipment to Australia, including approximately 30 pounds of meth on June 22, 2023, 200 pounds of meth on July 6, 2023, 100 pounds of meth on Aug. 21, 2023 and 200 pounds of meth on Aug. 28, 2023. 0:46 FBI add former Canadian Olympic snowboarder to most wanted list After the pickups, the confidential source led Sian and others to believe that they had their drugs safely stored until they could be shipped from Los Angeles to Australia. Story continues below advertisement However, when the drugs arrived in Australia, officials packaged fake drugs and placed a tracking device inside. The fake drugs were then driven to a stash house and officers with the DEA in Australia then raided the stash house and arrested the receiving couriers. 'After their initial contact, Sian and CS-1 continued communicating and arranged an in-person meeting in Vancouver, Canada, on February 1, 2023,' the court documents read. 'Sian explained that in Canada, he works with Irish organized crime, specifically, the Kinnehan Family, Italian organized crime, and other Canadian organized crime groups. Sian also explained that he obtained drugs through contacts with drug cartels in Mexico and South America. 'Sian again stated that he worked with a known drug kingpin, based out of Turkey.' According to the affidavit, Sian thought he was moving hundreds of kilos of meth, but the DEA intercepted all of it, sending fake products to Sydney, where Australian law enforcement would track it to its destination and make arrests. Court documents also allege Sian was involved in the purchase of precursor chemicals from China and the distribution of those chemicals to Mexican Cartels. According to the affidavit, a Chinese national named Peng Zhou alleged he could get the precursor chemicals directly from China and could send them to LA through his trucking company. Story continues below advertisement Experts said this is a common route and method. 'Vancouver is the centre of gravity for hybrid warfare for transnational organized crime in North America,' Scott McGregor, a former military intelligence operator, told Global News. 'One of my colleagues in D.C. mentioned that it was a cross between Dubai and Miami.' Sian was arrested in Arizona and the affidavit was filed in California. None of the other people named in the document are facing charges at this time.

Surrey gangster rises to alleged international drug kingpin
Surrey gangster rises to alleged international drug kingpin

Ottawa Citizen

time9 hours ago

  • Ottawa Citizen

Surrey gangster rises to alleged international drug kingpin

When alleged international drug kingpin Opinder Singh Sian tried to get his purported bride into Canada a decade ago, the immigration appeal board ruled it was a sham marriage. Article content The biggest red flag to adjudicator Tim Crowhurst was that the wife, Sukhjeet Kaur Gill, didn't even know Sian had been seriously injured in a 2008 gangland shooting in Surrey. Or that he had a criminal record. Article content Article content Article content 'This background is particularly relevant to this appeal because the applicant was not aware of the appellant's criminal history, nor the shooting, nor his work experience at the time of marriage. The panel finds that this is very important information that would be expected to be shared by two persons entering into a genuine relationship,' Crowhurst said in January 2015, rejecting Sian's appeal to get Gill from India to Canada. Article content Article content Sian is now facing charges in the U.S. that he was the North American leader of an international drug smuggling organization, moving huge amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl precursors around the globe. Article content Article content Article content Article content The Kinahan gang started in Dublin in the 1990s, but is now headquartered in Dubai. It has close ties to Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel. Links to Iran and Hezbollah surfaced during a 2023 cocaine smuggling investigation into the Kinahans. Article content Sian is expected to next appear in a U.S. courtroom July 21. The DEA investigation stretched from Ankara, Turkey, to Australia, with confidential sources and undercover agents on the ground in several countries. Article content The RCMP's liaison officer in Ankara collaborated with the Americans throughout their probe, strategizing on how to infiltrate the global drug trafficking network and leveraging intelligence from B.C. federal policing investigators.

Surrey gangster led transnational drug operation with infamous Irish gang
Surrey gangster led transnational drug operation with infamous Irish gang

Toronto Sun

timea day ago

  • Toronto Sun

Surrey gangster led transnational drug operation with infamous Irish gang

Opinder Singh Sian, who survived two Surrey shootings in 2008 and 2011, was arrested last month in Nevada, according to U.S. court documents The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration undertook a three-year investigation into the crime groups. Photo by JOHANNES EISELE / AFP/Getty Images A Surrey gangster linked to the Brothers Keepers allegedly worked with the notorious Irish Kinahan gang as well as Turkish and American criminals to smuggle methamphetamine and fentanyl precursors around the globe. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Opinder Singh Sian, who survived two Surrey shootings in 2008 and 2011, was arrested last month in Nevada, according to U.S. court documents obtained by Postmedia. He was charged in California with smuggling large shipments of methamphetamine out of the port of Long Beach to Australia in the summer of 2023. At one point during the three-year-long investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Sian allegedly told a confidential source that he worked with 'Irish organized crime, specifically, the Kinahan family, Italian organized crime, and other Canadian organized crime groups.' 'Sian also explained that he obtained drugs through contacts with drug cartels in Mexico and South America. Sian again stated that he worked with a known drug kingpin based out of Turkey,' the 29-page criminal complaint said. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Kinahan gang started in Dublin in the 1990s, but is now headquartered in Dubai. It has close ties to Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel. The U.S. State Department announced $5-million US rewards for the arrest of leader Christy Kinahan and his sons Daniel and Christopher Jr. in April 2022. All three are also subject to U.S. Treasury sanctions. The investigation that led to Sian's arrest began in June 2022 when the DEA's office in Ankara, Turkey saw an opportunity to 'insert a confidential source (CS-1) playing the role of an international transportation coordinator into an international drug trafficking organization that needed help transporting drugs from Southern California to Australia and other destinations.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A gang member in Turkey gave the source Sian's phone number, identifying him as the North American leader of the drug trafficking organizations, the court document filed against Sian said. 'Sian and CS-1 subsequently held several in-person meetings and communicated via phone calls and the Threema messaging application in order to coordinate multiple deliveries of methamphetamine from co-conspirators to CS-1 in Southern California for shipment to Australia,' said the complaint, signed by DEA special agent Albert Polito. Sian unwittingly met the confidential source in both Vancouver and California in early 2023, arranging four drop-offs of methamphetamine totalling more than 240 kilograms throughout the summer of 2023. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The complaint said Sian believed that CS-1 was arranging to ship the meth to Australia through his purported cousin who posed as a port worker, but was really an undercover DEA agent. During a February 2023 Vancouver meeting, Sian introduced CS-1 to two male associates. 'They explained that they had about 500 kilograms of cocaine and needed help getting it through Los Angeles ports and then on to Australia. CS-1 claimed that he/she could arrange for the drugs to be offloaded in Los Angeles, repackaged, and put on a container ship to Australia,' the document said. 'CS-1 also claimed that he/she could arrange for someone to offload the drugs in Australia and transfer them to the ultimate buyers.' The following month, Sian went to L.A. to meet the source at a Manhattan Beach restaurant. The undercover DEA agent also attended. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'At the beginning of the meeting, Sian said they could get in trouble just for meeting like this.' CS-1 convinced Sian that the meth was being consolidated into a single load being sent in August 2023. 'When the purported arrival date came, DEA and Australian law enforcement packaged sham methamphetamine and placed a tracking device inside,' the document said. Undercover Australian officers gave the sham drugs to gang members in Sydney who drove to a stash house. 'The Australians then raided the stash house and soon thereafter arrested the receiving couriers.' At the urging of the DEA handlers, CS-1 asked Sian if he could get fentanyl precursor chemicals into the U.S. 'Sian informed CS-1 that he could get the chemicals directly from China. He then asked CS-1 if they could receive a shipping container in the Port of Long Beach containing those chemicals,' the complaint said, adding that Sian sent sample chemicals through the mail to the source. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. CS-1 visited Vancouver again in August 2023 for a meeting with Sian and an associate named Peter Peng Zhou. Zhou said 'he would be getting the precursors from China in Vancouver and send them to Los Angeles, via his trucking company.' So far, other B.C. suspects named in the U.S. case have not been charged. A Nevada judge ordered Sian, 37, held in custody pending his transfer to California. She said in her June 30 decision that Sian's criminal gang 'is alleged to have ties to international hitmen.' Sian has been on police radar in B.C. since at least 2008. He was wounded in a shooting in August 2008 that left his friend Gurpreet Sidhu dead. He was targeted again in May 2011, but survived. He was convicted in July 2017 of careless use of a firearm and sentenced to 18 months probation. kbolan@ . Bluesky: ‪@ Read More Columnists Golf NFL NHL Canada

Surrey gangster led transnational drug operation with infamous Irish gang
Surrey gangster led transnational drug operation with infamous Irish gang

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Yahoo

Surrey gangster led transnational drug operation with infamous Irish gang

A Surrey gangster linked to the Brothers Keepers allegedly worked with the notorious Irish Kinahan gang as well as Turkish and American criminals to smuggle methamphetamine and fentanyl precursors around the globe. Opinder Singh Sian, who survived two Surrey shootings in 2008 and 2011, was arrested last month in Nevada, according to U.S. court documents obtained by Postmedia. He was charged in California with smuggling large shipments of methamphetamine out of the port of Long Beach to Australia in the summer of 2023. At one point during the three-year-long investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Sian allegedly told a confidential source that he worked with 'Irish organized crime, specifically, the Kinahan family, Italian organized crime, and other Canadian organized crime groups.' 'Sian also explained that he obtained drugs through contacts with drug cartels in Mexico and South America. Sian again stated that he worked with a known drug kingpin based out of Turkey,' the 29-page criminal complaint said. The Kinahan gang started in Dublin in the 1990s, but is now headquartered in Dubai. It has close ties to Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel. The U.S. State Department announced $5-million US rewards for the arrest of leader Christy Kinahan and his sons Daniel and Christopher Jr. in April 2022. All three are also subject to U.S. Treasury sanctions. The investigation that led to Sian's arrest began in June 2022 when the DEA's office in Ankara, Turkey saw an opportunity to 'insert a confidential source (CS-1) playing the role of an international transportation coordinator into an international drug trafficking organization that needed help transporting drugs from Southern California to Australia and other destinations.' A gang member in Turkey gave the source Sian's phone number, identifying him as the North American leader of the drug trafficking organizations, the court document filed against Sian said. 'Sian and CS-1 subsequently held several in-person meetings and communicated via phone calls and the Threema messaging application in order to coordinate multiple deliveries of methamphetamine from co-conspirators to CS-1 in Southern California for shipment to Australia,' said the complaint, signed by DEA special agent Albert Polito. Sian unwittingly met the confidential source in both Vancouver and California in early 2023, arranging four drop-offs of methamphetamine totalling more than 240 kilograms throughout the summer of 2023. The complaint said Sian believed that CS-1 was arranging to ship the meth to Australia through his purported cousin who posed as a port worker, but was really an undercover DEA agent. During a February 2023 Vancouver meeting, Sian introduced CS-1 to two male associates. 'They explained that they had about 500 kilograms of cocaine and needed help getting it through Los Angeles ports and then on to Australia. CS-1 claimed that he/she could arrange for the drugs to be offloaded in Los Angeles, repackaged, and put on a container ship to Australia,' the document said. 'CS-1 also claimed that he/she could arrange for someone to offload the drugs in Australia and transfer them to the ultimate buyers.' The following month, Sian went to L.A. to meet the source at a Manhattan Beach restaurant. The undercover DEA agent also attended. 'At the beginning of the meeting, Sian said they could get in trouble just for meeting like this.' CS-1 convinced Sian that the meth was being consolidated into a single load being sent in August 2023. 'When the purported arrival date came, DEA and Australian law enforcement packaged sham methamphetamine and placed a tracking device inside,' the document said. Undercover Australian officers gave the sham drugs to gang members in Sydney who drove to a stash house. 'The Australians then raided the stash house and soon thereafter arrested the receiving couriers.' At the urging of the DEA handlers, CS-1 asked Sian if he could get fentanyl precursor chemicals into the U.S. 'Sian informed CS-1 that he could get the chemicals directly from China. He then asked CS-1 if they could receive a shipping container in the Port of Long Beach containing those chemicals,' the complaint said, adding that Sian sent sample chemicals through the mail to the source. CS-1 visited Vancouver again in August 2023 for a meeting with Sian and an associate named Peter Peng Zhou. Zhou said 'he would be getting the precursors from China in Vancouver and send them to Los Angeles, via his trucking company.' So far, other B.C. suspects named in the U.S. case have not been charged. A Nevada judge ordered Sian, 37, held in custody pending his transfer to California. She said in her June 30 decision that Sian's criminal gang 'is alleged to have ties to international hitmen.' Sian has been on police radar in B.C. since at least 2008. He was wounded in a shooting in August 2008 that left his friend Gurpreet Sidhu dead. He was targeted again in May 2011, but survived. He was convicted in July 2017 of careless use of a firearm and sentenced to 18 months probation. kbolan@ . Bluesky: ‪@ Hundreds of Hells Angels, affiliates attend memorial for original B.C. member BMW seized from Montreal gangster in Kamloops linked to sex trafficking

Surrey gangster led transnational drug operation with infamous Irish gang
Surrey gangster led transnational drug operation with infamous Irish gang

The Province

timea day ago

  • The Province

Surrey gangster led transnational drug operation with infamous Irish gang

Opinder Singh Sian, who survived two Surrey shootings in 2008 and 2011, was arrested last month in Nevada, according to U.S. court documents The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration undertook a three-year investigation into the crime groups. Photo by JOHANNES EISELE / AFP/Getty Images A Surrey gangster linked to the Brothers Keepers allegedly worked with the notorious Irish Kinahan gang as well as Turkish and American criminals to smuggle methamphetamine and fentanyl precursors around the globe. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Opinder Singh Sian, who survived two Surrey shootings in 2008 and 2011, was arrested last month in Nevada, according to U.S. court documents obtained by Postmedia. He was charged in California with smuggling large shipments of methamphetamine out of the port of Long Beach to Australia in the summer of 2023. At one point during the three-year-long investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Sian allegedly told a confidential source that he worked with 'Irish organized crime, specifically, the Kinahan family, Italian organized crime, and other Canadian organized crime groups.' 'Sian also explained that he obtained drugs through contacts with drug cartels in Mexico and South America. Sian again stated that he worked with a known drug kingpin based out of Turkey,' the 29-page criminal complaint said. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Kinahan gang started in Dublin in the 1990s, but is now headquartered in Dubai. It has close ties to Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel. The U.S. State Department announced $5-million US rewards for the arrest of leader Christy Kinahan and his sons Daniel and Christopher Jr. in April 2022. All three are also subject to U.S. Treasury sanctions. The investigation that led to Sian's arrest began in June 2022 when the DEA's office in Ankara, Turkey saw an opportunity to 'insert a confidential source (CS-1) playing the role of an international transportation coordinator into an international drug trafficking organization that needed help transporting drugs from Southern California to Australia and other destinations.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A gang member in Turkey gave the source Sian's phone number, identifying him as the North American leader of the drug trafficking organizations, the court document filed against Sian said. 'Sian and CS-1 subsequently held several in-person meetings and communicated via phone calls and the Threema messaging application in order to coordinate multiple deliveries of methamphetamine from co-conspirators to CS-1 in Southern California for shipment to Australia,' said the complaint, signed by DEA special agent Albert Polito. Sian unwittingly met the confidential source in both Vancouver and California in early 2023, arranging four drop-offs of methamphetamine totalling more than 240 kilograms throughout the summer of 2023. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The complaint said Sian believed that CS-1 was arranging to ship the meth to Australia through his purported cousin who posed as a port worker, but was really an undercover DEA agent. During a February 2023 Vancouver meeting, Sian introduced CS-1 to two male associates. 'They explained that they had about 500 kilograms of cocaine and needed help getting it through Los Angeles ports and then on to Australia. CS-1 claimed that he/she could arrange for the drugs to be offloaded in Los Angeles, repackaged, and put on a container ship to Australia,' the document said. 'CS-1 also claimed that he/she could arrange for someone to offload the drugs in Australia and transfer them to the ultimate buyers.' The following month, Sian went to L.A. to meet the source at a Manhattan Beach restaurant. The undercover DEA agent also attended. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'At the beginning of the meeting, Sian said they could get in trouble just for meeting like this.' CS-1 convinced Sian that the meth was being consolidated into a single load being sent in August 2023. 'When the purported arrival date came, DEA and Australian law enforcement packaged sham methamphetamine and placed a tracking device inside,' the document said. Undercover Australian officers gave the sham drugs to gang members in Sydney who drove to a stash house. 'The Australians then raided the stash house and soon thereafter arrested the receiving couriers.' At the urging of the DEA handlers, CS-1 asked Sian if he could get fentanyl precursor chemicals into the U.S. 'Sian informed CS-1 that he could get the chemicals directly from China. He then asked CS-1 if they could receive a shipping container in the Port of Long Beach containing those chemicals,' the complaint said, adding that Sian sent sample chemicals through the mail to the source. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. CS-1 visited Vancouver again in August 2023 for a meeting with Sian and an associate named Peter Peng Zhou. Zhou said 'he would be getting the precursors from China in Vancouver and send them to Los Angeles, via his trucking company.' So far, other B.C. suspects named in the U.S. case have not been charged. A Nevada judge ordered Sian, 37, held in custody pending his transfer to California. She said in her June 30 decision that Sian's criminal gang 'is alleged to have ties to international hitmen.' Sian has been on police radar in B.C. since at least 2008. He was wounded in a shooting in August 2008 that left his friend Gurpreet Sidhu dead. He was targeted again in May 2011, but survived. He was convicted in July 2017 of careless use of a firearm and sentenced to 18 months probation. kbolan@ . Bluesky: ‪@ Read More Vancouver Canucks News NHL Sports Betting Local News

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