Two Vancouver security screeners arrested in drug conspiracy

Two security screeners and a third man have been charged after the RCMP, and its partners, linked them to an attempt to export 14.77 kilograms of MDMA (ecstasy) at Vancouver International Airport.

On May 9th, 2011, CBSA officers stopped a passenger in the post-security section of the USA departure gates. During questioning, the subject admitted to carrying drugs in his backpack. The subject was arrested and escorted to the CBSA secondary area for examination, where CBSA officers located 14.77 kilograms of suspected MDMA in the 20-year-old Vancouver man’s backpack. CBSA officers immediately arrested the man and seized the contraband. The RCMP’s Border Integrity Program (BIP) and Drug Enforcement Branch (DEB) were immediately alerted and an investigation was initiated.

In the days following the first arrest, an intensive RCMP BIP investigation uncovered a conspiracy to export MDMA through Vancouver Airport. The conspiracy allegedly involved two uniformed Pre-board Screening Officers working for a company contracted by CATSA.

By May 20, 2011, RCMP BIP had gathered sufficient evidence to arrest 24-year-old Gurvinder Singh Pahl of Richmond and 31-year-old Ajitpal Singh Judge of Surrey. Both Pahl and Judge were remanded in custody until May 24, 2011, at which time they appeared in Richmond Provincial Court. They have since been released on bail and will make their next court appearance on June 15, 2011. They are each facing charges of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking, Conspiracy to Traffic in a Controlled Substance, and Breach of Trust. Pahl is facing an additional charge of Failure to Comply with a Probation Order.

The drug courier arrested on May 9 was released at the time, but Dylan Scott Green of Vancouver has now been arrested on upgraded charges of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking and Conspiracy to Traffic in a Controlled Substance.

The RCMP investigation is on-going.