KELOWNA residents Kulwant Singh Bal, 44, and Gary Dhami, 32, are among six suspects that are facing a total of 30 drug-related charges as part of ALERT (Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams) Lloydminster’s Project Deception.
The interprovincial drug trafficking investigation resulted in the seizure of over half a million dollars in drugs and cash.
Project Deception focused on disrupting an interprovincial drug trafficking network linked to Lloydminster, and had drug suppliers based in Edmonton and Kelowna. The investigation began in May 2021 and saw homes searched in Lloydminster, Edmonton and Springbrook in Alberta, and Kelowna and Vernon in B.C.
ALERT Lloydminster organized crime and gang team arrested five of the suspects between June 13 and 22, while a warrant has been issued for one of the suspects who is believed to have fled the country.
Lloydminster straddles the provincial border between Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Project Deception was a joint forces investigation in partnership with Lloydminster RCMP, British Columbia’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC), and RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime (FSOC).
“Project Deception has been a lengthy, complex investigation, which is reflected in the severity and scope of the charges being laid. These suspects allegedly supplied our communities with harmful drugs and now they will be held accountable before the Courts,” said Sgt. Bruce Maclean of ALERT Lloydminster.
Charges against the suspects include drug trafficking and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence:
- Jason Johnson, 37-year-old from Springbrook, Alberta
- Steven Rogan, 32-year-old from Lloydminster
- Petar Hristov, 28-year-old from Edmonton
- Kulwant Singh Bal, 44-year-old from Kelowna, B.C.
- Gary Dhami, 32-year-old from Kelowna, B.C.
- Nikita Robertson, 26-year-old from Edmonton.
Hristov is believed to have fled Canada and his whereabouts remain unknown. Anyone with information on Hristov is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is always anonymous.
