Parminder Sidhu, Cocaine Conspiracy, New York 2014

BUFFALO, N.Y. – In a major victory for law enforcement, Parminder Sidhu, 39, of Brampton, Ontario, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to export from the United States five kilograms or more of cocaine before Chief U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.

The charge carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, a $10,000,000 fine or both. Sidhu’s sentencing is scheduled for May 28, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. before Chief Judge Skretny.

This case is a result of an investigation by Special Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero, Officers from the United States Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Randy Howe, Acting Director of Field Operations, the Peel Regional Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jennifer Evans, the Canada Border Services Agency, under the direction of Rick Comerford, Regional Director General, Southern Ontario Region and the Toronto Police, under the direction of Chief William Blair.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who is handling the case, stated that between 2009 and May 10, 2011, the defendant conspired with Michael Bagri and Ravinder Arora to export cocaine from the United States to Canada.

In September 2010, Sidhu hired defendant Bagri to travel to California to pick up cocaine. Defendant Bagri then hid 97 kilograms of cocaine in a false compartment in the floor of a tractor trailer. The tractor trailer was then driven to Cheektowaga, N.Y. where it was turned over to defendant Ravinder Arora. Defendant Arora then proceeded to Canada. At the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, Special Agents with the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol seized the 97 kilograms of cocaine from the false compartment during a secondary inspection.

The investigation revealed that Sidhu directed defendant Bagri to travel once again to California in May 2011. After hiding another 26 kilograms of cocaine in another tractor trailer, the rig was driven to a truck stop in Pembroke, N.Y. The tractor trailer was then picked up by a driver hired by Parminder Sidhu. As the driver exited the truck stop, Bagri followed behind in another vehicle. Agents later stopped the tractor trailer and Sidhu’s vehicle and seized the 26 kilograms of cocaine.

Defendants Ravinder Arora and Michael Bagri have been convicted of similar charges and are awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for April 9, 2014.

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