An Indian student in Canada has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of drug trafficking in Canada. 27-year-old Jatinderpal Singh turned to selling drugs after he was told by a “friend of friend” that he could make money and clear off his debts through drug selling after his student visa expired, as he could not afford the school fees. According to the written decision by Saskatoon provincial court Judge Lisa Watson, who presided over Singh’s sentencing, Singh came to Canada to study at a university in Ontario. He passed his first year of study but could not complete his second year as he had no money to pay his fees. After being told about making money through drugs, he reached out to a trafficking group over the Signal messaging app, CBC reported. They sent him to Saskatoon in July 2024 and directed him to sell drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl. Singh was staying at a hotel which was being surveilled by the police. He sold drugs for four weeks before he was arrested by Saskatoon police. After arresting him, police found more than half a kilogram of cocaine, more than five kilograms of methamphetamine, and more than two kilograms of fentanyl. They also found $77,546 in cash. The judge in her verdict noted that Singh was a part of a high-level drug trafficking operation. Though he did not get all the money, he brought wealth to the organization, the judge noted. “Given all of the circumstances, including the quantity of drugs, the manner in which they were packaged, the amount of cash, and the details revealed in the scoresheet, I am satisfied that the only rational inference to draw is that Mr Singh was engaged in a high-level drug trafficking operation,” Watson wrote in her decision.“Mr Singh chose to engage in illegal activity purely for financial gain,” said Watson. “While he did not personally receive the benefit of all of the profit, he brought wealth to the organization and is responsible for the distribution of incredibly harmful substances into the community. He has contributed to the public health crisis in this province.”Watson sentenced Singh to 11 years in prison. After credit for his time on remand, Singh has nine and a half years left to serve. Watson said that when Singh’s sentence is complete, Singh “will face a significant collateral consequence” and will be deported from Canada.
