The only person charged in connection with Canada’s largest fentanyl and meth lab pleaded guilty Wednesday.
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The only person charged after an RCMP investigation uncovered Canada’s largest fentanyl and methamphetamine lab pleaded guilty Wednesday to attempting to smuggle 310 kilos of meth to the Philippines.
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Gaganpreet Singh Randhawa admitted that he made several trips to a Richmond shipping company called Manila Cargo Express with boxes full of meth destined for Southeast Asia in September and October 2024.
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And Randhawa also admitted he possessed not only meth, but fentanyl, carfentanil, cocaine and MDMA in his vehicle, as well as at a Surrey stash site that he used.
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Randhawa, who had an earlier drug trafficking conviction from 2017, also agreed that he possessed a prohibited semi-automatic Glock and ammunition while he was under a lifetime firearms prohibition.
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There was no mention in the agreed statement of facts read by federal prosecutor Xiaoshan Zheng of the record-setting superlab in Falkland that was dismantled by the RCMP’s specialized team after it was found in October 2024.
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Randhawa’s arrest on Oct. 25, 2024, was linked to the Falkland investigation by the RCMP at the time.
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Sources told Postmedia News that the lab had been set up by the Wolfpack gang alliance and had links to imprisoned gangster James Riach, who is serving a life sentence in the Philippines for drug trafficking.
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Zheng told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Catherine Murray that the RCMP’s federal and serious organized crime section targeted Randhawa in an investigation that began in April 2024.
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Upon Randhawa’s arrest, police searched several locations that he was connected to — including Manila Cargo Express on No. 5 Road, a U-Haul locker he rented on 56th Avenue in Surrey, his stash house on 127A Street in Surrey and his apartment at 10603-148th St., as well as his Kia Sorrento.
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“Mr. Randhawa admits that between Sept. 23, 2024, and Oct. 23, 2024, he attempted to export 310 kilograms of methamphetamine (31 boxes containing 10 kilograms of methamphetamine each) to the Philippines,” Zheng said. “On Oct. 11, 16 and 22, 2024, police observed Mr. Randhawa transporting 12 boxes total — four boxes per day — from the stash site to Manila Cargo for shipments to the Philippines. Each box contained 10 kilograms of methamphetamine.”
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She said police “intercepted a further 19 boxes that Mr. Randhawa had shipped via Manila Cargo between Sept. 23, 2024, and Oct. 9, 2024. These boxes were en route to the Philippines and had yet to leave Canada.”
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Randhawa repeated the word “guilty” four times after each count was read out in court during the 20-minute appearance.
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Murray agreed to put over his sentencing until the new year so that he could remain in pretrial custody, to more easily facilitate visits with family over the holidays.
