Bail conditions changed for accused in drug smuggling case
By Delon Shurtz on March 25, 2021.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDDShurtz@lethbridgeherald.com
A judge has agreed to change a bail condition for a man accused of trying to smuggle drugs into Alberta late last year.
Judge John Maher consented Wednesday in Lethbridge provincial court to a defence request that Amarpreet Singh Sandhu’s curfew be amended to allow him to leave his home earlier each day for work. Sandhu’s previous bail conditions stipulated he obey a curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. every day, but his curfew now allows him to leave home at 4 a.m.
“He drives dump truck, and most of his jobs start quite early,” Calgary lawyer Alan Fay told court.
Sandhu is charged in relation to a record haul of methamphetamine that Canada Border Services Agency officers uncovered at the Coutts border on Christmas Day.
Officers referred a semi-truck hauling produce for further inspection, and while examining the shipment, discovered 228 kilograms of methamphetamine. The CBSA reported the drugs are worth about $28.5 million on the street and are equivilent to 2.28 million individual dosages.
The agency said the bust is the largest seizure of methamphetamine at a land border crossing in Canada.
Officers arrested the driver and turned him and the evidence over to Alberta RCMP.
“It is because of CBSA officers’ diligence while screening essential goods that this record amount of methamphetamine did not reach our streets or cause harm to our communities,” Ben Tame, CBSA southern Alberta director, said in a press release following the drug bust.
Sandhu, 38, of Calgary is charged with drug smuggling and drug possession for the purpose of trafficking.
The accused, who was released on bail Jan. 14, returns to court April 13. Fay told court he needs more time to take instructions from his client before determining his next steps.
The Crown also pointed out there have been minor changes in disclosure, which need to be shared with defence.
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