HSI New England Seizes over 500 Kilos of Narcotics, Arrests Two Men for Drug Distribution

Tractor trailer truck stopped in Andover with 32 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine and over 400 kilos of suspected cocaine worth over $10 million

BOSTON — Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England special agents arrested two Indian nationals July 29 in connection with the distribution of controlled substances.

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Simranjit Singh, 28, and Gusimrat Singh, 19, of Fresno, California, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Both men made initial appearances yesterday in federal court in Boston and remain in federal custody at this time.

According to the charging documents, HSI special agents became aware of a California-based drug trafficking organization interested in transporting methamphetamine and other drugs to Boston. HSI special agents, acting in an undercover capacity, began communicating with a member of the drug-trafficking organization who agreed to sell 65 pounds (approximately 32 kilograms) of methamphetamine to the undercover agents.

On July 29, at approximately 10:15 p.m., a white tractor-trailer arrived at a planned Andover address to deliver methamphetamine to the undercover special agents. The driver and passenger of that tractor trailer, later identified as Gusimrat Singh and Simranjit Singh, allegedly handed off 65 pounds of suspected methamphetamine to the undercover agents. HSI special agents immediately took the men into custody.

According to court documents, while searching the cab of the tractor-trailer, over 400 kilogram bricks of suspected cocaine was discovered, worth more than $10.5 million.

“Seizures of this magnitude have a significant public health and safety impact on our local communities,” said HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “These investigations are difficult and dangerous, yet it remains imperative that HSI continue to work with our partners to disrupt the flow of dangerous drugs into New England.”

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to life of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. sentencing guidelines and statutes that govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

“The sheer amount of drugs seized in this one case is disturbing and dangerous. These defendants allegedly took a cross-country trip to distribute illicit narcotics into Massachusetts communities,” said acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “I am grateful for our dedicated law enforcement partners who have worked so diligently to prevent harmful drugs from reaching our streets. Drug traffickers should beware: We will find you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of federal law.”

Krol and Levy made the announcement July 31. The case was investigated by the HSI Boston Strike Force. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Andover Police Department, the Milton Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police.

This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multiagency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multijurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.