MORE KIDNAPPINGS LINKED TO DRUG DISPUTE

Abductions Stemmed From Missing Drug Shipment, Sources Say

Three more men have been charged in connection with the ever-widening
investigation into the kidnapping of a Brampton truck driver.

As well, two men previously charged in connection with the Jan. 13
abduction of Balkar Singh, 33, including one person who received bail
last week, have now been re-arrested and charged with other offences
in the case, The Star has learned.

Peel Police today also revealed today that three other victims,
besides Singh, were kidnapped in connection with this drug-related probe.

The arrests were carried out early Thursday morning in Peel and
Toronto in raids conducted by members of a special 18-member Peel
task force working the case along with officers with Toronto Police's
tactical unit.

The three other victims were abducted in the week leading up to
Singh's kidnapping. Like Singh, they were beaten before being
released by their captors, police confirmed today.

All of the victims, whose identities remain secret except for
Singh's, were forced at gunpoint into a rented van, according to
court documents obtained by The Star.

Acting Detective Sergeant Jim Dolan today said the victims were taken
to numerous locations in Peel and Toronto where they were "beaten
extensively" before being released.

Peel Police have refused to reveal why the men were kidnapped, but
police sources say the abductions are related to a large quantity of
drugs that went missing. According to the sources, the missing
shipment was being transported by a Brampton-based drug trafficking
network involved in the cross-Canada and cross-border movement of
cocaine and marijuana.

An 18-member task force had been created and was well underway when a
Peel tactical officer shot and killed Rajesh Owaan, 21, on Jan. 15 as
police tried to execute a search warrant at a Caledon residence where
Singh was believed to have been held for three days.

The shooting continues to be probed by the province's Special
Investigations Unit (SIU), which has designated one subject and two
witness officers.

Singh returned home about 8 p.m. on Sunday. Jan. 14, just hours
before police descended on the Caledon residence on Bramalea Rd.

Jagdeep Singh, 43, who was wounded in the leg during the
confrontation with police, remains in custody. Although not charged
with any offence in connection with the kidnappings, he has been
charged with breach of probation, breach of recognizance and several
firearms offences.

Police also executed a search warrant within hours of Singh's release
at an apartment on Panorama Court in Rexdale.

Amandeep Soos, 25 of Brampton, who was granted bail last week, was
re-arrested yesterday along with Harnesh Singh, 41 of Maple, Abitabh
Sharma, 25, of Brampton and Jaskaranjit Singh. 35, of Brampton. Also
re-arrested while in custody was Sukhjit Dhaliwal, 31, of Woodbridge.

All five men have been charged with conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy
to commit aggravated assault, forcible confinement, kidnap, kidnap
using a firearm and aggravated assault. They appeared today in a
Brampton court but were remanded and designated for a special bail
hearing to be held at a later date.