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BC Activist Jailed In US, Accused Of Selling Ecstasy

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1091/a01.html
Newshawk: CMAP http://www.mapinc.org/cmap

Pubdate: Fri, 08 Jul 2005
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2005, The Globe and Mail Company
Contact: letters@globeandmail.ca
Website: http://www.globeandmail.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Robert Matas
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

B.C.  ACTIVIST JAILED IN U.S., ACCUSED OF SELLING ECSTASY

VANCOUVER -- A British Columbia woman active in federal and provincial politics was denied bail yesterday in a U.S.  court after being charged with selling the drug ecstasy to an undercover agent.

Her case marks the second time in recent years that criminal charges against unelected political activists cast a pall over B.C.  politics.

Ravinderjit Kaur Shergill, who is also known as Ravinderjit Kaur Puar and Amanareet Kaur Puar, was arrested on June 30 in Seattle after allegedly handing over bags of ecstasy pills to a U.S.  drug enforcement undercover agent.  The bags contained pink tablets weighing a total of 2,215 grams, blue tablets weighing 378 grams and seven additional tablets weighing 26 grams.

Ms.  Shergill, 24, and three others -- Sarbjit Singh Virk, Sarbjit Singh Sandhu and Kamaljit Singh Ghag -- were charged with distributing ecstasy, a controlled substance in the United States.

Before her arrest, Ms.  Shergill told the undercover agent that she was a politician, her father was a politician and "she cannot have any 'heat' on her," U.S.  Special Agent Joseph Parker stated in a 17-page complaint filed in U.S.  District Court in Seattle.

Political observers confirmed yesterday that Ms.  Shergill and her father Kalwant Singh Puar have been active in the federal Liberal Party and provincial NDP.

Ms.  Shergill was a federal Liberal at the time of the leadership race in 2003 but voluntarily resigned her membership in January.  She was a Paul Martin delegate in the federal leadership campaign bid but did not attend the convention.

She joined the provincial NDP in September, 2004, and ran unsuccessfully for an NDP nomination in the recent provincial election.

Her father, who operates four tow trucks under contract for Buster's Towing, is regarded as a valued supporter of federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh.

"The Minister came to know him recently.  He was a supporter in the 2004 campaign, and the Minister appreciated his support," said Ken Polk, Mr.  Dosanjh's press aide.

Similar to his daughter, Mr.  Puar also has ties to the provincial NDP.  He has introduced NDP Leader Carole James to members of the Indo-Canadian community at party fundraising events, a political activist, who asked to remain anonymous, said in an interview.

Although her political ties were confirmed, her claim of having police protection in B.C.  was explicitly denied.

Ms.  Shergill told the undercover agent that "her family organization has it very well with the cops and that the police in Vancouver, B.C., work for the organization, as her father is very well connected politically," Mr.  Parker told the court.

The agent quoted her as saying those who talk to the police in Vancouver were killed.

Constable Howard Chow of the Vancouver Police Department said Ms.  Shergill's comments were "absurd."

The police do not know what she is talking about, he said.  They would investigate whatever information she provided, Constable Chow added.

After she was arrested, Ms.  Shergill agreed to answer questions, court was told.  She admitted her involvement in prior drug deals and provided information about others who she said trafficked drugs, Mr.  Parker said.  She described her associate, Mr.  Virk as a "kingpin" in a large drug trafficking organization in Canada.

U.S.  magistrate Mary Theiler said Ms.  Shergill's statements could be no more than bragging.  But she did say them, the judge said before denying bail to Ms.  Shergill and Mr.  Virk, who is also a Canadian.

Mr.  Ghag and Mr.  Sandhu, who are Americans, were released on bail.

Eighteen months ago, a drug investigation led to a raid on the provincial legislature and criminal charges against two ministerial aides who allegedly traded confidential government documents for employment opportunities, travel and meals.

The two aides -- Robert Virk and David Basi -- were backroom organizers in the Indo-Canadian community for the provincial Liberal Party and for Prime Minister Paul Martin's federal leadership campaign.

Drug charges against Mr.  Basi were dropped earlier this year.  But charges of fraud and breach of trust against Mr.  Basi and Mr.  Virk are scheduled to go to trial Nov.  28.