BORDER GUARD ACCUSED OF AIDING TRAFFICKERS

CBSA Employee Took Money for Allowing at Least 12 Large Shipments of
Cocaine to Enter B.C., Says Indictment Filed in U.S.

For the second time in less than two years, an employee of the Canada
Border Services Agency is accused of misusing his position to help
international drug traffickers smuggle cocaine into B.C.

An arrest warrant for Jasbir Singh Grewal was issued in a Seattle
courtroom two weeks ago, The Vancouver Sun has learned.

Grewal is accused of allowing at least 12 large shipments of cocaine
concealed in motor homes to cross into B.C. from Washington state.

"Jasbir Singh Grewal, an employee of the Canada Border Services
Agency, abused his position of trust and influence with the government
of Canada by allowing the co-conspirators travelling by recreational
vehicles to exit the United States through the Lynden/Aldergrove Port
of Entry," says the indictment filed by the U.S. Attorney.

"Jasbir Singh Grewal was typically paid $50,000 for successfully
smuggling each load of cocaine."

Another CBSA border guard, Baljinder Kandola, is due back in Surrey
Provincial Court Aug. 19 after being charged in a similar smuggling
case. Kandola faces counts of breach of trust and conspiracy to import
cocaine and firearms after he was arrested in October 2007 along with
others in B.C. and Washington.

CBSA media officer Pennie Libby refused to say Friday whether Grewal
was still on the job or has been suspended or fired.

"The Privacy Act does not allow me to give out personal information
about an employee," Libby said, suggesting Grewal is still employed by
the government agency.

"The CBSA is cooperating fully with the criminal investigation.
Allegations of improper or illegal behaviour by our staff are taken
very seriously by the CBSA and are thoroughly investigated."

Libby said the CBSA is "working closely with the RCMP and U.S.
authorities and will continue to collaborate in the criminal
investigation."

According to court documents, Grewal and other "known and unknown
conspirators, coordinated the timing of the entry of illegal shipments
of cocaine to Canada with the co-conspirators driving the recreational
vehicles to coincide with his employment schedule."

The court documents lay out in detail one of the shipments linked to
Grewal.

"In July 2007, Jasbir Singh Grewal was on duty at the Aldergrove point
of entry. He was wearing his department-issued uniform in service of
the Canada Border Services Agency. Jasbir Singh Grewal was told by
telephone that a recreational vehicle containing cocaine was soon to
approach the international border crossing. ...

"The driver of the recreational vehicle was told to approach the
crossing at a specific booth that was staffed by Jasbir Singh Grewal.
The driver complied with his instruction and Jasbir Singh Grewal
knowingly passed the vehicle containing the cocaine. ... In exchange
for the vehicle to pass, Jasbir Singh Grewal was paid $50,000."

The U.S. Attorney also alleges that sometime prior to July 24, 2007,
Grewal made arrangements with associates to import 270 kilos of cocaine.

An RV was stopped in Orange County, Calif. on that date and searched
by U.S. authorities.

There is no reference in the Grewal court documents about whether the
driver of the vehicle intercepted in California was charged or is
cooperating in the case against Grewal. Nor are names provided of
other "known conspirators."

In another cross-border drug case, Metro Vancouver's Rob Shannon
pleaded guilty to using motor homes and other vehicles to move
millions of dollars worth of cocaine and marijuana back and forth
across the border.

The U.S. Attorney alleges Grewal earned an extra $600,000 U.S. in the
last six months of 2007 alone.

"Jasbir Singh Grewal failed to document the border crossings each time
the recreational vehicle containing cocaine passed into Canada. He did
so to avoid detection by law enforcement to his and his conspirators
illegal activities."

Grewal was indicted by a grand jury last November, but the court file
was secret until April 2009 when the U.S. Attorney requested it unsealed.

"Defendant is a fugitive. The government is preparing an extradition
request to the Canadian government. Unsealing the court file will
simplify the extradition process," assistant U.S. Attorney Adam
Cornell said in his application to open the file.

An arrest warrant for Grewal was issued on June 19 by the U.S.
District Court.

No one from the U.S. Attorney's office returned calls
Friday.

Libby said the CBSA takes appropriate action when employees break the
law up to and including termination.

The CBSA expects employees "to uphold the law in carrying out their
duties," she said. "CBSA has zero tolerance for any illegal or
inappropriate actions.

"All CBSA employees are subject to strict standards of conduct and any
employee who violates these standards may face disciplinary action."

Libby said the public should still have confidence in border service
agents despite the Grewal case.

"The agency has confidence in the integrity, professionalism and
vigilance of its border services officers," she said. "This matter
involved a single officer and these allegations do not in any way
diminish our trust and confidence in the officers who protect our borders."