Latest news with #GurvindarSingh
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
07-06-2025
- First Post
Indian-origin Gurvinder Singh accused of running major drug, cigarette smuggling operation in Australia
The operation included 280 kg of liquid methamphetamine, cocaine hidden in cement sacks, and a network of 'trusted insiders' at port facilities who assisted the ring. The network made at least $443,000 selling contraband cigarettes on Sydney's black market alone read more Gurvinder Singh, 42, an Indian-origin Australian, was arrested after a two-year probe for allegedly masterminding a global drug smuggling network. News18 Gurvinder Singh, a 42-year-old Indian-origin Australian man, was arrested following a two-year multi-agency investigation for allegedly masterminding an international drug operation that smuggled 20 million illicit cigarettes and over half a tonne of cocaine into Sydney, according to Australia Today. The operation included 280 kg of liquid methamphetamine, cocaine hidden in cement sacks, and a network of 'trusted insiders' at port facilities who assisted the ring. The network made at least $443,000 selling contraband cigarettes on Sydney's black market alone. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Last month, the strike team executed synchronised early-morning raids involving over 150 police on residences in Punchbowl, Wetherill Park, and the neighbouring suburbs. Gurvindar Singh was arrested outside a private property shortly after exiting his car near a waiting police car. Two Canadians of Indian descent, Aman Kang (24) and Mani Singh Dhaliwal (31), were also arrested. Authorities claim that they were hired by Gurvindar Singh to recover and distribute the cocaine cargo. Singh is facing five charges for importing a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs and illegal tobacco, two counts of dealing with proceeds of crime, and two charges related to leading a criminal group. If found guilty, he could face life in prison. Kang and Dhaliwal have been charged with possessing a commercial quantity of drugs and participating in a criminal group. All three were denied bail during their initial court appearances and are scheduled to return to Downing Centre Local Court in July. Singh's lawyer argued for his release on bail, citing his client's underlying health issues and the fact that he is the sole provider for his family.
News18
07-06-2025
- News18
From Sydney To Panama And Canada: The Indian-Origin Man Behind A Global Smuggling Ring
Last Updated: Gurvindar Singh is at the centre of a massive two-year investigation by Australia's Multi Agency Strike Team (MAST) A 42-year-old Sydney-based man of Indian origin, Gurvindar Singh, has been accused of heading an international drug and tobacco trafficking syndicate that spanned multiple continents and used legitimate freight channels to smuggle illicit goods into Australia. Massive Two-Year Probe By Australia's Elite Strike Team Gurvindar Singh is at the centre of a massive two-year investigation by Australia's Multi Agency Strike Team (MAST), a coalition involving the NSW Police, Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Border Force, NSW Crime Commission, AUSTRAC, the ATO, and other enforcement bodies. He faces multiple serious charges, including five counts of importing commercial quantities of controlled drugs and illegal tobacco, as well as directing a criminal group and dealing with the proceeds of crime. According to authorities, Gurvindar Singh orchestrated the import of 50 kilograms of cocaine concealed in cement bags from Panama, 280 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine shipped from Canada and over 20 million illicit cigarettes smuggled from the United Arab Emirates, allegedly using a freight company operating out of Punchbowl in southwestern Sydney. Two Canadian nationals of Indian origin, Aman Kang (24) and Mani Singh Dhaliwal (31), were also apprehended. Authorities allege they were recruited by Gurvindar Singh to retrieve and distribute the cocaine shipment. About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" First Published: June 07, 2025, 20:23 IST
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Indian Express
Indian-origin man accused of masterminding illegal drug, tobacco ring in Sydney
A Sydney-based man of Indian origin has been accused of heading a sophisticated international drug and tobacco trafficking syndicate that spanned several continents and used legitimate freight channels to move illicit cargo into Australia. Gurvindar Singh, 42, is at the centre of a two-year investigation by Australia's Multi Agency Strike Team (MAST), which comprises the NSW Police, Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Border Force, NSW Crime Commission, AUSTRAC, the ATO and other agencies. He faces multiple charges, including five counts of importing a commercial quantity of controlled drugs and illegal tobacco, as well as offences relating to proceeds of crime and directing a criminal group. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of life in prison. Authorities allege that Singh masterminded the import of 50 kg of cocaine hidden in cement bags from Panama, 280 kg of liquid methamphetamine shipped from Canada, and over 20 million illicit cigarettes brought into the country from the United Arab Emirates using a freight company based in Punchbowl, a suburb in southwestern Sydney. According to news portal Australia Today, the first major breakthrough came in August 2024, when investigators intercepted a liquid meth consignment arriving from Vancouver. Surveillance teams tracked it from port storage to a covert cooling and extraction site in Riverstone, Sydney's northwest, leading to the arrest of two men. This, police say, eventually led them to identify Singh as the suspected ringleader. More evidence emerged in January 2025, when customs officials flagged irregularities in a container from the UAE. Three separate consignments of illegal cigarettes had already been imported through the Punchbowl freight firm allegedly linked to Singh's network. Police estimate that the illicit cigarette sales alone netted him at least AUD 443,000. Last month, investigators executed a series of early-morning raids involving over 150 officers across properties in Wetherill Park, Punchbowl and nearby suburbs. Singh was arrested outside a private residence near a police van, moments after stepping out of a vehicle. Two Canadian nationals of Indian origin—24-year-old Aman Kang and 31-year-old Mani Singh Dhaliwal—were also arrested. The police allege they were recruited by Singh to recover and distribute the cocaine shipment. Both men were denied bail and charged with possessing a commercial quantity of drugs and participating in a criminal group. A seventh suspect was intercepted at Sydney Airport while attempting to board an international flight, the police added. Singh allegedly relied on encrypted messaging apps, port insiders, and shell companies to facilitate his operations. In one intercepted conversation, cited both by ABC News and Australia Today, Singh was allegedly heard exclaiming 'It's fake' when he realised the police had swapped out the 50 kg of cocaine with an inert substance prior to a handover. At a press conference following the arrests, AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Fogarty said the syndicate exploited access to legitimate logistics and transport firms to subvert border controls. 'This was not a small-scale operation,' Fogarty said. 'This was an enterprise worth tens of millions of dollars, spanning multiple continents.' Apart from the large quantities of contraband recovered, vehicles, digital devices, cash, and financial records believed to be linked to money laundering were seized. Financial crime investigators are now probing the movement of funds through what they describe as a web of shell companies. At Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday, Singh's lawyer, Ahmed Dib, requested bail, citing the accused's poor health, family responsibilities, and his willingness to offer his home as surety. However, Magistrate Josephine Carling denied the request, stating that the serious nature of the charges and Singh's international links posed a significant flight risk. 'Given the volume of illegal tobacco and narcotics purportedly imported, the risk to community safety is substantial,' she observed. Singh and his co-accused are scheduled to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on July 31, where they are expected to be formally arraigned. The case has triggered renewed political debate in Australia around tobacco excise policy. As Australia Today reported, NSW Premier Chris Minns cited the operation as evidence that the country's high tobacco taxes are fuelling a booming black market, calling on the federal government to re-evaluate the excise regime. 'Our legitimate tobacconists cannot compete with criminals selling cigarettes for a fraction of the cost,' he said. Opposition Leader Mark Speakman, however, argued that the solution lies in better enforcement, not lowering taxes. Investigators have warned that additional arrests may follow as they analyse financial trails and digital evidence recovered during the raids. They say the crackdown has dealt a serious blow to transnational criminal networks operating in Australia and are hopeful it will lead to more robust anti-smuggling enforcement measures.
ABC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Sydney man Gurvindar Singh alleged mastermind of illegal tobacco, drug ring
A man with no criminal record or prior underworld connections is the alleged mastermind behind a plot to import 20 million illegal cigarettes and almost half a tonne of drugs into Sydney. Gurvindar Singh, 42, faces a maximum penalty of life in jail if convicted. In total, police allege they have tied back 50 kilograms of cocaine from Panama, 20 million cigarettes from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and 280kg of liquid meth from Canada to Mr Singh. Police alleged they tracked Mr Singh and his associates using a messaging app, with undercover officers and telephone intercepts, before sweeping raids over the weekend. One of the intercepts, police will allege in court, captured Mr Singh saying "it's fake" when he realised police had swapped the 50kg of cocaine for an inert substance. The drugs were allegedly hidden inside cement bags imported from Panama into Port Botany last week. Police will allege Mr Singh enlisted the help of Canadians Aman Kang, 24, and Mani Singh Dhaliwal, 31, who are related by marriage, to sell the drugs to crime networks. Both have been charged with possessing a commercial quantity of drugs and have also been refused bail. It is also alleged in court documents that when the drugs arrived in the cement bags, Mr Singh wanted to sell the cement they arrived in too. Police will allege Mr Singh netted $443,000 in proceeds of crime after selling some of the illegal cigarettes on the lucrative Sydney black market. The tobacco had allegedly been illegally imported from the UAE in January. Police accuse Mr Singh of using a freight forwarding company in Punchbowl to import more than 20 million cigarettes in three consignments. The police statement of facts in this case reveals that police have been watching Mr Singh and six associates for two years under a team called the Multi Agency Strike Team (MAST). The MAST began the investigation looking for workers at ports of entry into the country helping to smuggle in drugs, before evidence led them to the men who were later charged. Police say they first identified Mr Singh as the alleged ringleader when they uncovered a plot to import 280kg of liquid meth in August 2024 from Vancouver. Police will allege they charged two men with a raft of drug offences after observing them attempting to cool and extract the liquid meth in Riverstone. Mr Singh has been charged with five counts of importing a commercial quantity of drugs and border-controlled tobacco, two counts of dealing with proceeds of crime and two relating to his role in leading a criminal group. The most serious charges carry a maximum sentence of life in jail, but Mr Singh has not entered any pleas to the offences. He appeared in Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday, where his lawyer, Ahmed Dib, argued for his release on bail. Part of his argument to remain in the community was that Mr Singh had a series of health conditions, was the breadwinner for his family, and was willing to put up his house as a surety. He was denied bail and will remain in custody until his next court appearance at the Downing Centre Local Court next month. Mr Dib was contacted by the ABC but he declined to comment on the case.
