SASKATOON — A former international student, who came to Canada for an education but turned to drug trafficking to pay his debts, was sentenced to 11 years in prison, a conviction that will lead to his permanent removal from the country after he’s released.
Jatinderpal Singh, 26, was sentenced in Saskatoon Provincial Court by Judge Lisa Watson after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including possession of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking.
“In the summer of 2024, Jatinderpal Singh made what he characterizes as the worst mistake of his life,” said Judge Watson in her Sept. 4 written decision. “He chose to participate in a drug trafficking scheme purely for financial gain.”
Court heard that Singh was a key operator in a sophisticated drug network, responsible for distributing kilograms of drugs into Saskatoon.
From student to drug trafficker
Singh came to Canada from India and attended his first year of studies at the University of Ontario, according to court documents. But he was unable to complete his second year because he couldn’t afford the fees. As a result of not attending school, his visa expired. He started taking out loans and borrowing from friends and family to help him get by. He was planning on returning to India in November 2024 but was hoping to pay off his debts before leaving Canada.
He heard from a “friend of a friend” that he could make money by selling drugs. He was told he could make $10,000 to $12,000 a week. Despite this, the most money he made in one week was approximately $3,800, court heard.
Singh contacted “the group” on the Signal application in mid-to-late July of 2024. Within 10 days of this first contact, he had a plane ticket purchased by the group and was on a flight to Saskatoon. By July 31, 2024, he had landed in Saskatoon.
In Saskatoon, he was directed to go to the hotel room, where most of the drugs and $20,000 cash were already present. On the same day, he was selling drugs in Saskatoon at the direction of the group.
Singh had been selling drugs in Saskatoon for approximately four weeks. The money police found in the room was the profit from just Sunday through Friday of that week. The group would have the money from each week picked up or dropped off at a location every Sunday.
Police operation
Police surveillance at the Thriftlodge Hotel on Idylwyld Drive throughout August 2024 revealed Singh’s central role. His arrest on Aug. 30, 2024, unveiled the scale of the operation. In his hotel room, police found large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine.
On his person and in his Thriftlodge Hotel room, police found over a half-kilogram of cocaine, over five kilograms of methamphetamine, and over two kilograms of fentanyl and its analogues, with a total street value of up to $73,140. They also seized $77,546 in cash, which the judge said was the profit from just one week of trafficking.
Judge Watson, in her sentencing decision, rejected the defence’s characterization of Singh as a low-to-mid-level drug trafficker. Based on the quantity of drugs, the detailed score sheets he maintained, and the expert testimony, she found him to be crucial in a high-level trafficking operation.
“He has contributed to the public health crisis in this province," said Judge Watson. "Those who choose to profit from the misery of the public for personal gain must be sentenced in accordance with the severity of the harm they have caused. I am of the view that a lengthy sentence is necessary in order to meet the principle of proportionality.”
After receiving credit for time already served, Singh faces just over 10 years in prison before being deported.
“With respect to collateral consequences, I am of the view that Mr. Singh’s immigration consequences should be considered but only to a limited extent," said Judge Watson.
