Canadian Punjabi journalist sentenced to 5.5 years in smuggling case
Sukhvinder Kaur Sangha (47) pleaded guilty to unlawful importation that took place in 2024
A prominent Punjabi-language journalist and broadcaster who reported on crime and interviewed high-profile politicians, ministers, celebrities, and police officers has been sentenced to 5.5 years in prison for attempting to smuggle more than 100 kilograms of methamphetamine into Canada from the United States.
According to a Global News report by The Canadian Press, Sukhvinder Kaur Sangha (47), pleaded guilty to unlawful importation that took place in 2024. She was arrested by the Canada Border Services Agency after fleeing a border crossing in Surrey, B.C., at high speed in a rental vehicle with Florida plates in October 2021.
Justice John Gibb-Carsley of the B.C. Supreme Court handed down the sentence on April 10 in New Westminster. The court found that a search of the vehicle revealed four duffel bags containing 108 kilograms of methamphetamine, valued between $1 million and $10 million.
Sangha, who was born in Prince George and worked for a decade as a Punjabi-language radio and television producer and host, claimed she had been in Washington State for her aunt’s funeral. She fled during a secondary inspection, leading to a police chase before she was stopped on 16th Avenue in Surrey.
The judge ruled that Sangha gave “untruthful testimony” by claiming she had been threatened and coerced into the smuggling operation. Text message evidence showed she was likely a “trusted and willing participant” and had imported drugs on previous occasions. The court noted that her language and tone in arranging the trips did not match her claims of fear.
“Sangha has some celebrity profile in her community as a Punjabi language radio and television host and media presence,” the ruling stated.
Justice Gibb-Carsley told Sangha in court: “I derive no pleasure in sentencing you. What I hope you heard and understand is that there are significant risks, dangers and consequences associated with the illegal drug trade. It is not a victimless crime.”
He added that he hoped she would use her time in custody productively so it would be her last interaction with the criminal justice system. The case has drawn attention in British Columbia’s media and Punjabi community due to Sangha’s public profile as a journalist covering crime and conducting interviews with prominent figures.
