Punjabi TV Host Sukhwinder Kaur Sangha Jailed For 5.5 Years In Canada Over Drug Smuggling Case

New Delhi: Sukhwinder Kaur Sangha, 47, who has been working as a Punjabi radio and TV host in Canada for the last decade, has been sentenced to 5.5 years in prison in a drugs smuggling case. She was arrested in 2021 while smuggling methamphetamine from the US. The court pronounced this verdict after Sangha admitted his crime. The case also attracted attention because she had been an active face in the society and had been making the youth aware of drug addiction.

What was the whole matter?

According to the investigating agencies, the value of the drugs that Sangha was smuggling was estimated to be between 1 million and 10 million dollars. This is not considered to be a small network. The prosecution argued in the court that strictness is necessary in such cases so that organized gangs cannot use the weak links. On this basis, a punishment of 10 to 12 years was demanded.

Was the claim of compulsion able to reduce the sentence?

The defense told the court that Sangha did this under pressure. Her son was threatened with harm and a demand of $1.5 lakh was made from her. The lawyer argued that she was not part of organized crime but was a victim of circumstances. Although the court did not fully accept this argument, it was definitely taken into consideration while deciding the sentence.

How was Sukhwinder Sangha caught?

On October 18, 2021, Sangha was crossing the US-Canada border in a rented car with Florida number plates. She told officers she was returning from a relative's funeral in Washington. Feeling suspicious, when the officers wanted to check the vehicle, she fled from the spot. After this, they were stopped after chasing and during search, bags full of drugs, two iPhones and a deleted iPad were recovered from the car.

Had you traveled to America before?

Investigation revealed that Sangha had made several trips to America in August, September and October of the same year. Although those trips did not reveal direct evidence of drug trafficking, agencies linked it to suspicious activities. This deepened the suspicion that she was in contact with some big network.

Who is Sukhwinder Kaur Sangha?

Sukhwinder Kaur Sangha was born in Prince George. She studied pharmacy technician and also worked in this field for some time. Later she came into the media industry and made her mark as a producer and host in Punjabi radio and TV. She interviewed many well-known personalities and was also active on social issues.

Is there any bigger message from this case?

Prosecutors say strict punishment is necessary in such cases, because organized crime often uses ordinary people through greed or pressure. Sangha's case also points to how even people who appear socially active and responsible can fall into the trap of such networks.