Four men charged for illegal gun importation and export of illegally grown cannabis across the Canada/USA border via helicopter.

After a 16-month joint investigation with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Ontario and Quebec with the assistance of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) – Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team, executed six (6) search warrants within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Quebec. This resulted in the seizure of a quantity of suspected restricted and prohibited handguns, over 800 plants and dried cannabis from an illegal grow operation and approximately 400 grams of suspected cocaine.

The group was found to be cultivating cannabis outside of Health Canada regulations in the GTA. On
several occasions, the group used a Jet Ranger helicopter to fly the illegally grown cannabis across the
Canada-U.S. border between the ports of entry at low altitudes to avoid detection. The helicopter, a truck, and a trailer were seized as offense-related property. An investigation into the origin of the handguns is ongoing.

RCMP officers of the Hamilton-Niagara Regional Detachment Serious and Organized Crime Unit arrested:
Kamal Deep Bassan, 36 years of age, from Vaughan, Ontario;
Ramindejit Assi, 25 years if age, from Burlington, Ontario;
Derek Chi-Yeung Ng, 40 years of age, from East Gwillimbury, Ontario; and
Parmjot Saini, 30 years of age, from Woodbridge, Ontario.
All four individuals are jointly charged with:
• Conspiracy to commit the unlawful export of cannabis, possession of cannabis for the purpose of
exporting it and cultivating cannabis not at a dwelling house, contrary to the Criminal Code;
• Possession of cannabis for the purpose of Export Contrary to the Cannabis Act;
• Unlawful export of cannabis contrary to the Cannabis Act;
• Unlawful cultivation propagation and harvest of cannabis plants at a place that is not a dwelling
house, contrary to the Cannabis Act;
• Possession of forged documents, contrary to the Criminal Code.
Raminderjit Assi is further charged with:
• Illegal possession of brass knuckles, a prohibited device, contrary to the Criminal Code.

Anyone with information regarding criminal activity is encouraged to contact their local police, the RCMP at 1-800-387-0020 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.