B.C. Man Denied Bail in Cross-Border Drug Case as Extradition Proceedings Loom
Noah Chen
7/29/20261 min read
One of three British Columbia men arrested earlier this month in connection with alleged drug offences uncovered through a multinational investigation has been denied bail.
Gurtej Smagh appeared by video at B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on Tuesday, while his co-accused, Ravinder Singh Dhanda and Jaskarn Baghri, attended the hearing in person.
All three men are facing bail hearings ahead of extradition proceedings to the United States.
Arrests Linked to Operation Hard Ball
The men were arrested in early July as part of Operation Hard Ball, a joint investigation involving the RCMP and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The broader operation targets 37 defendants, including Lawrence Bishnoi, an alleged gang leader who has been imprisoned in India since 2015.
Smagh, Dhanda and Baghri are named in a separate indictment involving allegations of international drug trafficking.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Indictment Alleges International Smuggling Network
The indictment alleges Dhanda led a drug distribution network that provided international smuggling services for large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine.
According to the allegations, the network transported drugs for trafficking organizations operating in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The indictment also alleges that one of the accused received information from an individual connected to the Canada Border Services Agency to assist with smuggling cocaine and methamphetamine across the Canada-U.S. border.
The indictment does not establish guilt, and the accused are entitled to the presumption of innocence.
Defence Says Court’s Decision Respected
Andree Solari, co-counsel for Smagh, said the defence had hoped he would be released.
“Ultimately the hope is always for our client to be released,” Solari said.
“But again, the court made its decision, and we respect it.”
The bail hearings for Dhanda and Baghri are expected to take place in August.
The three men will continue through the Canadian court process as U.S. authorities seek their extradition.
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