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B.C. woman sentenced to 5 1/2 years for smuggling 108 kilograms of meth from U.S.
Justice John Gibb-Carsley said text messages showed Sangha was a willing participant in a drug operation that carried 108 kilograms of methamphetamine.
On Friday, April 10, the British Columbia Supreme Court in New Westminster sentenced Punjabi-language broadcaster Sukhvinder Kaur Sangha to 5 1/2 years in prison for attempting to smuggle more than 100 kilograms of methamphetamine into Canada.
Justice John Gibb-Carsley noted in his sentencing reasons that Sangha fled the Pacific Border crossing on Oct. 21, 2021, in a rental car with Florida plates before police stopped her on 16th Avenue in Surrey.
Authorities found 108 kilograms of methamphetamine valued between $1 million and $10 million in the vehicle; text messages led the judge to reject Sangha's coercion claims, finding she was a "trusted and willing participant" in the smuggling operation.
The court found Sangha gave "untruthful testimony," which "negates the remorse that would otherwise be evinced through her guilty plea." The ruling noted her "celebrity profile" as a Punjabi-language radio and television host.
Evidence showed Sangha imported drugs prior to her arrest, contradicting her fear-based narrative. The judge told her, "My hope is that you can use your time of incarceration productively and positively.