ESTEVAN, Sask. — An Ontario man has received a six-month conditional sentence order (CSO) for trying to smuggle drugs into Canada at the North Portal border crossing.
Iqbal Singh Kahlon pleaded guilty to one count of smuggling or attempting to smuggle goods into Canada whose importation is prohibited, controlled or regulated. A more serious charge of importing or exporting a substance under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) was stayed.
Federal Crown prosecutor Kathryn Gilliss told the court that on March 4, the Estevan RCMP was called by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) at North Portal about Kahlon, who was detained while attempting to enter Canada with a suspected controlled substance. The CBSA added that Kahlon had previously been stopped for possessing 13 grams of opium when crossing the border into Ontario, Gilliss said, but the matter had been resolved by seizure, forfeiture and disposal.
During the arrest at North Portal, the CBSA performed a search under the Customs Act with a drug-detection dog, which indicated the presence of narcotics within a bottle labelled as Vitamin D.
“On opening the container, officers located approximately 250 pills of opium, with the total weight of 67 grams,” said Gilliss.
A charge under the CDSA is more common when there is an indication of importation and further sale for distribution, Gilliss said.
“There is no evidence of that before the court today,” Gilliss said. “Through this investigation, it appears to be … a relatively small value by comparison. All indications appear to be for personal use.”
Kahlon’s immigration status weighed into the resolution, she said, given the potential issue of deportation for someone who had no prior criminal record.
Kahlon's defence attorney said Kahlon takes full responsibility for his actions. The lawyer described Kahlon as a dedicated family man and the primary provider for his household.
“He is a man who strongly believes that being a good person means being responsible, hard-working, respectful and caring for others,” the lawyer said, adding that Kahlon is a commercial truck driver who has successfully owned and operated his own transportation company since 2002.
“He is remorseful for what he has done and understands the repercussions of this could result in him not being able to work or provide for his family, and he is focused on not ever making a mistake like this again,” Kahlon's lawyer said.
The CSO has standard conditions. Kahlon will be able to serve the sentence in Ontario.
