audit confirmed 'safe supply' drugs being trafficked BC Conservatives demand inquiry and Dr. Boney Henry be fired
The BC Conservatives have called on David Eby to take action following revelations that a significant amount of "safe supply" drugs doled out since 2022 have not been consumed by their intended recipients. Surrey South MLA and Solicitor General and Public Safety Critic Elenore Sturko asked the premier to fire Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, and launch a public inquiry.
A leaked Ministry of Health audit presentation showed that many drugs were instead being trafficked not just across British Columbia, but throughout Canada and
internationally as well.
According to the document, obtained by the BC Conservative caucus, pharmacists and doctors prescribed 22,418,000 doses of opioids to around 5,000 patients in the province. That's an average of 4,483 per person.
Hydromorphone accounted for 19%, while fentanyl patches, oxycodone, dextroamphetamine sulfate, and morphone sulfate came in at 13%, 7%, 2%, and 1%, respectively.
A "significant portion" of the drugs in question were "not being consumed by their intended recipients."
Continued on Page 6...
How does fentanyl get into the US?
President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods, citing Beijing's failure to stop the export of chemicals used in the production of the powerful opioid fentanyl. The US has long accused Chinese corporations of knowingly supplying groups involved in the creation of the drug. Beijing has hit back with tariffs of its own. The White House has also accused Canada and Mexico of failing to prevent criminal gangs from smuggling fentanyl into the US. Trump had planned tariffs against both those countries but he suspended that threat after winning some concessions on increased border security. Fentanyl is a synthetic drug
manufactured from a combination of chemicals. US regulators approved it for use in medical settings as a pain reliever in the 1960s, but it has since become the main drug responsible for opioid overdose deaths in the US.
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After hearing the news that U.S. President Donald Trump planned to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian exports, Miksha shelved his plans to apply to Boston University, Yale and Harvard for graduate studies. Continued on Page 6...
Incarceration reduces reoffending rates in BC, SFU study finds
A new, long-term study of youth who have experienced incarceration in British Columbia has found that those who have spent more time in custody showed a decrease in reoffending following release from prison. The research was led by Evan McCuish, an associate professor in the School of Criminology at Simon Fraser University, and published in the Journal of Criminal Justice. This study used data from BC Corrections to look specifically at offenders in the Canadian justice system.
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US military plane carrying deported Indians lands in Punjab
A US deportation flight carrying about 100 Indian nationals accused of entering the country illegally has landed in the state of Punjab.
The military aircraft, which left Texas late on Tuesday, is now in the city of Amritsar where authorities say they have put measures in place to process the deportees.
President Donald Trump has made the mass deportation of undocumented foreign nationals a key policy. The US is said to have identified about 18,000 Indian nationals it believes entered illegally. Trump has said India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him that the country would "do
what's right" in accepting US deportations.
Authorities in Punjab say they have set up special counters to receive the deportees, adding the individuals would be treated in a "friendly" manner.
Continued on Page 10...
A daycare owner and operator in Abbotsford, B.C., has been charged with assaulting children.
Abbotsford police said that in October 2024 their major crime unit launched an investigation of children being assaulted at the daycare in East Abbotsford.
The alleged incidents, dating back to 2022, involved children aged two to six years old, police said.
The investigation continued over the past few months and on Tuesday, detectives arrested 61-year-old Indu Takhar. She has now been charged with six counts of assault and has been released from custody under several courtordered conditions that include not going to any daycare centres and having no contact with any person under the age of 16 years old.
“I can confirm that the children were no longer at the daycare,” Const. Jody Thomas with Abbotsford police told.
“And these are kids. They’re aged two to six. So, of course, we have officers that are specialized in interviewing children. And it involved, you know, you have to interview everybody involved. And that’s a that’s a lot of interviews to conduct and ensuring that we find everybody that we can that may have information to help us.” A person with the same name is listed as the owner and founder of Smile ‘N’ Play Daycare with two locations on McKinley Drive, which is in East Abbotsford.
“Our detectives did a very thorough investigation, but of course, it’s involving (children) dating back to 2022,” she said.
Immigration
Canada’s proposed fentanyl czar and crossborder strike force, announced this week to fight drug trafficking, could go a long way to tackle transnational organized crime on this side of the border, experts say.
But they added that the additional proposal to declare Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations won’t do much unless there is an infrastructure to investigate and prosecute those involved.
On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the new measures in response to concerns raised by U.S. President Donald Trump about fentanyl production in super labs, including a record-sized one uncovered by the RCMP in Falkland, B.C. last fall. And Trump has complained about Canadian fentanyl being smuggled into the U.S., despite statistics showing less than 20 kilograms was intercepted by American border agents in 2024. Neither the federal public safety department nor RCMP headquarters responded to Postmedia’s requests for more information Tuesday, but Minister of Public Safety David McGuinty told CNN that the czar’s role would be to “pull together a full Canadian national response between our provinces, our police of local jurisdiction, and work with American authorities.”
Criminologist Yvon Dandurand, professor emeritus at the University of the Fraser Valley, said the new measures “are interesting and important.”
“The question is why didn’t they do it beforehand? Why did the U.S. have to resort to some kind of bullying or threats to accomplish that?” And Dandurand said police should be more broadly focused than just the Canada-U.S. border. “The real issue is not so much at the border. It is the organized crime groups without any real controls. It’s about the production of (drugs). It’s about the broader issue of organized crime,” he said.
Investigations that only target the border mean “all you catch are mules and rather meaningless actors, as opposed to the people who are behind it and profit from it,” Dandurand said.
One Trump official said Tuesday that Mexican cartels are expanding in Canada. In fact, they have operated in the country for at least 15 years, working closely with homegrown criminal organizations such as the Hells Angels, the affiliated Wolfpack gang alliance, and the United Nations gang, among others.
Retired Vancouver police superintendent Mike Porteous told Postmedia that prior to the Mexican crime groups setting up in B.C., they were “obviously involved in bringing drugs into this country.”
In about 2010, police here “started seeing
those direct linkages, not just your local guys going down to Mexico and bringing stuff back,” Porteous said.
Vancouver officers helped in a U.S. investigation that year targeting large amounts of cartel cash being collected in B.C. Porteous said that police often work informally with counterparts in other jurisdictions.
“Anything that we can do to formalize those kinds of relationships to be more effective is very welcome,” he said. “It only if stands to reason that those types will only be bolstered through levels of formalization.”
The number of cartel members here today is difficult to calculate as those involved are mobile. As well, local criminal organizations meet their transnational counterparts in various locations around the world. The RCMP recently executed search warrants on a Surrey house where alleged Sinaloa cartel members had been living.
Hungarian man facing hundreds of criminal charges remains in Canada
If all the allegations prove to be true, a 24-year-old Hungarian man with close to 400 charges against him could be called Canada’s hardest working criminal.
Police allege that Lajos Galamb went on his intrepidly productive run of break-and-enters in Ontario beginning in Jan. 2024 – all while he was supposed to be on house arrest. That run netted him 193 charges for incidents spanning multiple jurisdictions over just one year.
Galamb is also facing 195 other break-andenter-related charges in jurisdictions outside the initial investigation area, including Waterloo, Guelph, London, York, Peel, and Durham regions.
The Toronto Police Association rang an alarm bell over the story in a widely circulated X post that lamented what many perceive as a revolving-door justice system and calling for bail reform: “How many more chances do repeat violent offenders get before meaningful change happens?”
Commenting on the Toronto Police Association’s X post, Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre added: “397 strikes, you’re out! But woke Liberals’ catch-and-release, hug-a-thug laws turn him loose to terrorize our people.” Law enforcement agencies are collaborating as they work to piece together the full scope of the alleged crimes. Their investigations also involve two other Hungarians.
In 2018, Galamb and two other Hungarian nationals were arrested for allegedly stealing metal from properties in the Cobourg area.
Despite this prior arrest, Galamb and his alleged partners-in-crime remain in Canada and are not in custody, raising questions about the effectiveness of the judicial, immigration and deportation systems.
A law enforcement source, speaking to The Toronto Sun, expressed frustration over the challenges of deporting non-violent offenders.
“This is yet another example of why we need real bail reform NOW,” the Toronto Police Association post continued.
“Unless it’s a violent offense, they’ll get multiple immigration hearings, claim refugee status, and allege persecution back home. Once they’re in, you can’t get them out.”
BC Govt to move forward with controversial Richmond supportive housing; councillor says pause was ‘political’
The provincial government is giving the go-ahead for a supportive housing project in Richmond that’s drawn widespread criticism from those in the community.
The province had previously paused work on the project in August– a couple months ahead of the October provincial election.
B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says the project was delayed by researching five alternate locations.
“We temporarily paused moving forward with the proposed supportive housing project at 3780 Sexsmith Rd. in Richmond so BC Housing staff could explore other potential sites,” said Kahlon in a statement Thursday.
But Richmond City Coun. Kash Heed says the timing is absolutely related to the election.
“How much more political can this be?” he asked 1130 NewsRadio — rhetorically. He says the issue was so hot-button it basically tanked the BC NDP’s election chances in Richmond — and the only reason the party hit pause was to salvage its polling numbers in the city.
Heed says he supported the plan last year, but the province pulled the rug out from under council by stepping in and telling them no.
Kahlon says the Sexsmith Road location remains the best option.
“This project is crucial to helping address the urgent need for long-term, supportive housing to deal with the growing number of people facing homelessness in Richmond, which has increased 91% since the pandemic to more than 160 people at last count,” said the minister.
He adds that misinformation around the project has clouded the fact that it will have 24/7 staffing, an outdoor clean-up crew, a dedicated public
phone line, and security features, such as cameras, fencing and lighting.
Heed says he’s still in favour of supportive housing in the city but won’t be backing this project — unless it’s specifically made for seniors who can’t afford rentals in Richmond.
“I’m not going to play their political game. I’m not going to be a political pawn of this provincial government on this particular issue,” said Heed.
The province says it will be sending the site back to Richmond city council for final consideration.
A community group that campaigned against the project last year reassembled outside the site Thursday, pushing back against the project, citing safety concerns.
‘Keep Richmond Safe,’ a coalition of local, conservative politicians and candidates, including Sheldon Starrett, spoke to media, arguing anecdotally that low-barrier access to housing attracts crime.
“I was a bit disappointed that the minister, in his statements, said that there was much misinformation about this site, because the legitimate concerns that people are airing are based off of what we’ve seen,” said the hopeful federal Conservative nominee for Richmond Centre-Marpole.
Two houses in Surrey illegally built, prompting City action
In a highly rare move, the City of Surrey announced today that it is taking punitive action against the homeowners of two single-family houses. According to the municipal government, the homeowners have “illegally constructed and occupied the buildings without permits,” which is in clear violation of the City’s Building Bylaw.
In a meeting on Monday, Surrey City Council unanimously sided with the recommendations of City staff to file notices on titles against the two properties, which are located in different neighbourhoods. One property is 5858 140th Street in South Newton. This is a 2017-built, two-storey single-family house, plus a basement. Sitting on a lot size of 6,022 sq ft, the house has
3,738 sq ft of indoor living space featuring six bedrooms and six bathrooms.
According to BC Assessment, as of the July 2023 roll, this property has an assessed value of $1.859 million, including $1.175 million for the land and $684,000 for the structure. The other property in question is located at 16653 31B Avenue in Grandview Heights. It is a two-storey singlefamily house, plus a basement, built in 2021. On a lot size of 10,000 sq ft, it has an indoor living space of 4,795 sq ft, including seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms.
It has an assessed value of $3.038 million, including $1.754 million for the land and $1.284 million for the structure. However, the municipal
government’s notices on the titles of both properties are intended to “alert potential buyers, lenders, and insurers about the illegal construction and the potential risks with the property.” This could have an impact on the assessed value and potential price of the properties, as under the City’s powers, it flags “unauthorized structures on a property that were built without the necessary building permits or inspections.”
Since 2022, the municipal government’s Illegal Construction Enforcement Team has been dedicated to enforcing the City’s bylaws and targeting residential construction performed without permits, inspections, or compliance with safety standards.
“Today’s decisions by Surrey City Council reaffirm our commitment to curb illegal construction that jeopardizes the safety of our community,” said Mayor Brenda Locke in a statement this afternoon.
Although such circumstances are unusual, there is some recent precedent for how some other municipal governments have handled situations where houses are built illegally without permits.
In November 2017, a luxury single-family house in West Vancouver was forcibly demolished following a years-long court battle by the District of West Vancouver beginning in 2014 to have the property demolished. It was built without the necessary permit approvals and inspections.
Defeated Conservatives candidate lawyering up to fight Elections BC
There is yet another twist in the ongoing saga of last October’s provincial election.
In an exclusive interview with 1130 NewsRadio, the losing BC Conservatives candidate in SurreyGuildford, Honveer Randhawa, says he’s retaining legal counsel to push back against Elections BC after the agency announced it was pausing its investigation into alleged voter tampering.
On Tuesday, the electoral body shared that the “allegations in Mr. Randhawa’s January 3 complaint to Elections BC are substantively the same as the allegations made in the court petition.”
“In order to preserve the integrity of the court proceeding, Elections BC is suspending its review of Mr. Randhawa’s complaint pending the outcome of the petition. The court will determine when the petition is heard,” it added.
That’s not sitting well with Randhawa.
“My petition is asking the election be held invalid because contraventions have happened.”
Randhawa doesn’t think Elections BC is upholding the integrity of the election or doing its job, and he feels dismissed.
“It is their inherent job to investigate complaints or infractions. I raised my concerns, but they still refused to give me any breakdown as to who voted how, so that made our job 10 times harder.”
He says he has already spent between $25,000 to $30,000 of his own money through the process.
“That is absurd to expect that from a candidate. It’s very disheartening, disappointing given how serious these infractions appear to be.”
The alleged voting irregularities, as the party has described it, mainly surround a health care facility in Surrey. Randhawa says it’s located right across from a voting station, and he claims he has evidence of vote tampering. Randhawa lost the riding by 22 votes to the BC NDP’s candidate. He states the number of invalid votes linked to the facility is 21.
“We’re just saying the wrong voting happened, and we need to get the bottom of this because the fact of the matter is that at the end of the day, the judge has to determine are these infractions strong enough, deep enough, that the election would be invalid,” he stated.
As birth tourism rises again, will Trump’s citizenship moves send more Canada’s way?
Vancouver-based birth tourism operator Liga Lin says her phone has been buzzing with inquiries from expectant mothers since U.S. President Donald Trump moved to end American birthright citizenship. Lin’s business, New Joy Postpartum Care, arranges accommodation and services for non-resident women who want to give birth in Canada, granting their children automatic citizenship rights. The industry also exists in the U.S., but Trump’s executive order seeking to end
the right to citizenship at birth on American soil has thrown it into disarray, even as the measure was blocked by a U.S. district court judge who called it “blatantly unconstitutional.” Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, known in English as RedNote, has numerous discussions among people in China about whether they should stick to their plan to give birth in the U.S. or switch to other countries with birthright citizenship, such as Canada.
In Loving Memory of Sardarni Ajit Kaur Cheema
With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Sardarni Ajit Kaur Cheema, who peacefully left us at the age of 95 in Surrey. She was the cherished mother of distinguished community leader and politician Dr. Gulzar Cheema, Dalbagh Cheema, and Gurlal Cheema, and the beloved aunt of Satbir Cheema, CEO of Pics, and Amandeep Warrea, radio host at Red FM. Sardarni Ajit Kaur Cheema passed away peacefully on February 1, 2025. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 1:00 PM at Riverside Funeral Home & Crematorium, located at 7010 Hopcott Road, Delta, BC. This will be followed by Antim Ardas at Nanaksar Gurdwara, 18691 Westminster Highway, Richmond, at 3:00 PM.
She leaves behind a large, loving family, including children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Known for her kindness, generosity, and unwavering support, Sardarni Ajit Kaur will be deeply missed by her family, friends, relatives, and all who had the privilege of knowing her.
We sincerely thank you for your love and support during this difficult time.
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OPINION
With Trump’s tariffs, it’s time for a more self-reliant Canada
Courtesy of Gordon Laxer: Donald Trump says he doesn’t need Canadian oil or anything else Canadian. Let’s face it, Canada has been dumped and is on its own.
By raising tariffs unilaterally, Trump will grossly violate USMCA, the former NAFTA. It’s no use doing deals with Trump, that he will break. Instead, let’s dust ourselves off and make things by Canadians for Canadians. Canada was tossed out of similar arrangements before. We picked ourselves up, became more self-reliant and thrived. Can we do so again?
First, a little history. Canadians know far more American history than their own. It’s time to change that. For most of our four centuries as a settler society, Canada was in the secure but subordinate embrace of more advanced powers. First France, then Britain, and finally the US. After what we thought were unshakeable relations with each, they suddenly dumped us.
Twenty years before Confederation, the colonies that formed Canada were tossed out of a privileged export relationship with Britain. Stunned, colonial economic elites rose in anger against the granting of more self-government to settlers and burned down the colonial parliament building in Montréal in 1849.
But sober heads soon prevailed, and the colonies found a substitute trade partner in the rising US, to export resources to. Thus began a reciprocity treaty (free trade) shortly before the US Civil War. It soon ended though because Britain and Canada had traded with the southern Confederacy during the war. Tossed out as a resource satellite of Britain and the US, Canada finally found its footing and created a unified, diversified economy. It was the national policy from shortly after Confederation until the Great Depression. That’s when Canada came of age. Could Trump’s threats propel us into a new national policy? Perhaps. But only if Canada ditches the conventional wisdom that exporting is better than supplying ourselves.
Canadian capitalists did not go willingly into Canada’s original national policy. They had to be pushed out of the easy route of exporting resources to Britain and the US, before Canada struck out on its own and shifted to an eastwest, national economy. Infant Canadian industries grew behind tariff walls, protected from cheaper imports from more developed countries. Not all imports were blocked by tariffs, but they were high enough to level the playing field for Canadian-made goods.
Justin Trudeau wants to revive UK-Canada trade talks in shadow of Trump
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is angling to revive long-shelved trade talks with the United Kingdom, as Ottawa tries to build up alliances in the shadow of Donald Trump's trade war.
The U.S. president pulled back from imposing punishing tariffs on Canadian goods on Monday, with Trudeau securing a one-month stay of execution for Canadian imports by striking a deal with Trump to further crack down on illegal migration and drug trafficking at the U.S.Canada border.
But as the U.S. tariff threat continues to loom, “we now have both a great opportunity and a great reason to work really hard at trade diversification,” Canadian High Commissioner to the U.K., Ralph Goodale told. He called on the U.K. to get back to the negotiating table after London walked away from bilateral trade talks last January.
Negotiations to replace a post-Brexit U.K.Canada rollover deal collapsed after a longrunning battle by Canadian farmers to get hormone-treated beef into Britain.
The fight led to British cheese farmers losing their preferred access to the Canadian market and some U.K. carmakers facing extra tariffs at Canada’s border.
“It would be helpful to take another go at that and see what we can accomplish in the shortest possible time,” Goodale said. “If we can add on to it, so much the better,” he said, with priority areas being science and tech and innovation, quantum computing and AI. Snags in the bilateral talks have also posed a barrier to Canada’s ratification of Britain’s membership of the Indo-Pacific CPTPP trade bloc.
But the U.K. wants to diversify trade beyond Europe — and Canada is eager to move beyond a reliance on the United States.
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Instead, "prescribed alternatives are trafficked provincially, nationally and internationally."
Also included in the slides were allegations that dozens of pharmacies were offering incentives to patients to get their fix there and exploiting a PharmaCare loophole to bill up to $11,000 per patient per year, and that a number of community housing employees were promoting certain dispensaries to their tenants.
In a statement to the Vancouver Sun, Health Minister Josie Osborne confirmed that the ministry was aware of the allegations.
"There's absolutely no denial of it," she said. "There's no diminishing of it, and there should be no acceptance of it. That's why we’re taking the actions that we are."
Upon learning of the situation, the BC Conservatives released a statement demanding the
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“I feel like the social and political climate in Canada is far better than what I’m seeing in the United States,” the fourth-year philosophy student said in an interview Tuesday. “If I can make a choice about where I’m going to spend probably many years of my life in grad school and afterwards, I would prefer to stay here.”
His gesture was one example of what observers say has been a growing wave of patriotic sentiment among Canadians since Trump took office and ratcheted up his anti-Canadian rhetoric, repeatedly saying the nation should become the 51st American state. Online, people are sharing lists of products made in Canada and posting about cancelling trips to the United States. ProCanadian, anti-Trump memes are flooding social media. And at professional hockey and basketball games on the weekend, the American national anthem was booed.
“If you look at people booing the Star Spangled Banner at sporting events, circulating information about how to boycott American-made products, generally, voicing their frustration at the Trump administration, it’s pretty unmistakable that there’s been a rise in patriotic sentiment,” said Edward Schatz, political science professor at the University of Toronto. And although Trump agreed Monday to a month-long tariff reprieve after discussions with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Schatz does not expect the patriotic flame to die away.
The Calgary-born Miksha celebrates Canada Day and marks Remembrance Day. Although he has always felt a “quiet pride” in being Canadian, he said he has never been given to overt displays of patriotism. But after hearing Trump’s attacks, he has decided not only to forego American universities but also to buy Canadian whenever possible.
government act.
"British Columbia was singled out as a source of illegal opioid trafficking by the American President," Sturko said. "Canada now has a 30-day reprieve from US tariffs to address border security and drug trafficking. David Eby must immediately stop his taxpayer-funded drug trafficking that is fuelling fentanyl use, killing people, and enriching organised crime." She went on to argue that "there is now no doubt that the NDP Government is responsible for fuelling addiction, deaths, enriching organised crime, and facilitating international drug trafficking." Both Sturko and BC Conservative leader John Rustad took aim at Henry, with the latter noting that, "while opposition members were raising concerns about diverted 'safe supply,' Bonnie Henry was calling for its expansion, and for drugs like fentanyl, crack cocaine, and meth to be legalised and sold in retail stores."
“With the 51st state statement, I find that profoundly insulting,” Miksha said. “Canada has a unique cultural history and a unique heritage … we have things like universal health care, which I think is a great triumph of Canadian society.”
A Leger online poll that surveyed 1,520 Canadians between Dec. 6 and 9, found just 13 per cent wanted Canada to become part of the United States, compared with 82 per cent who rejected the notion.
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said Monday that Trump’s threats have brought a “beautiful” Maple Leaf surge, with people actively looking for ways they can celebrate Canadian producers and products. “I think that comes alongside a bit of an anti-American sentiment,” she said, “a frustration that our closest neighbour and trading partner has decided to treat us this way.”
Bradley Miller, associate professor of history at the University of British Columbia, said the “stew of things” that Canadians have had to deal with in recent weeks has brought patriotic feelings, tinged with anger at the Trump administration, to the forefront.
Rightly or wrongly, he said, Canadians feel like they’ve held up their end of the bargain reached when the countries signed their 1988 free trade agreement. Now they feel taken advantage of.
“Things that we thought that we could count on are being thrown into question, and we’re left trying to anticipate where President Trump’s moods and his sense of political advantage will take us next,” Miller said. “There’s madness in the air.”
In a speech Saturday night after Trump had signed an executive order saying tariffs would take effect Tuesday, Trudeau invoked the resilience of “Team Canada,” called on Canadians to stand united and asked everyone to do their bit.
Flood of homes for sale hit the Langley market in January 2025
For those who were looking to buy a home in Langley in January, there was plenty on offer, with more homes for sale at the start of the year than in any January going back to before the pandemic. There were 888 homes actively listed for sale in Langley across all three major categories – singlefamily homes, townhouses, and condos, according to statistics released by the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
That was a big increase from the same month last year, when 605 homes of all kinds were listed for sale. Regionally, overall housing inventory was 54 per cent above the 10-year average.
Meanwhile, sales either dropped or didn't change too much from last year's numbers. There were 37 sales of single family homes in January, down 47.9 per cent from 71 sales the year before.
A total of 59 townhouses changed hands, up very slightly from 58 the year before, and 74 condos sold, a 10.4 per cent increase from the 67 that sold in January 2024.
The big change was the flood of new listings. Sellers put 181 new single-family homes, 135
townhouses, and 227 new condos on the market. All of those numbers were significant increases from the year before.
Home prices were up slightly. The benchmark price – the average for a "typical" home in its category – was $1,616,600 for a single family home in Langley in January, a 2.6 per cent increase yearover-year. Townhouses were going for $864,600, up 0.7 per cent, and condos for $603,900, up just 0.2 per cent.
The relatively low sales volume isn't a surprise for January, traditionally one of the slowest months for real estate sales.
Realtors and real estate forecasters have been predicting that the market, which has been relatively slow for most of the past year and a half, would come back to life as the Bank of Canada slashed interest rates from a high of five per cent. Since June, the bank has reduced its key overnight lending rate, which influences mortgage rates, down to three per cent.
But while there was a bit of a bounce in housing sales at the very end of 2024, it hasn't brought things back to average levels.
“The market appears to be in a holding pattern at the moment,” said Baldev Gill, CEO of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. “There is no doubt that economic uncertainty is playing a role, especially the spectre of a trade war, which could lead to even more rate cuts by the Bank of Canada."
A balanced market is when the number of sales is between 12 and 20 per cent of the active listings. Sales in January were at 11 per cent.
No jail time for man who fatally stabbed teen outside Surrey high school
A man who fatally stabbed a Surrey teen outside his high school two years ago won’t spend any additional time behind bars.
The offender, whose identity is covered by a publication ban because he was a minor at the time of the killing, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the Nov. 22, 2022, stabbing of 18-year-old Mehakpreet Sethi outside Tamanawis Secondary School.
He was originally charged with second-degree murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.
In January, he was handed a sentence of two years less a day of community supervision, after credit for 12 days of pre-sentence jail time. He was also given a 10-year firearms ban. At a sentencing hearing last month, the court heard the offender was a student at the school at the time, while Sethi was not.
Sethi’s girlfriend had told him that the offender had disrespected her, and Sethi and several other people went to the school to confront him, the court heard. The offender approached Sethi with
a group of six to 10 other boys, leading to an altercation that turned physical when one of them pushed Sethi.
In the course of the confrontation, Sethi either pushed or grabbed the accused, who responded by stabbing him once in the chest before driving away in his vehicle and leaving Sethi lying on the ground, the court heard.
Sethi died in hospital of a stab wound to an artery that fed his heart.
Police later found Sethi’s blood on the offender’s clothing and a knife. The court also heard how the offender had sent a Snapchat message to a friend reading, “Bro, I just shanked the kid in the parking lot. You gonna have to meet me later or smt, bro.
I gotta hide out.”
The offender told a psychiatrist the incident was self-defence, and he had not intended to kill Sehti. Prosecutors acknowledged that there was an element of panic in the offender’s actions and that Sethi, who was larger, approached him in a threatening manner with several other people.
4.5-year sentence for Surrey man who sexually abused girls aged 12 and 14
A former Surrey, B.C., real estate agent who sexually abused a 12- and 14-year-old girl and made video recordings of his abuse of the younger victim has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison.
But after credit for time served, Paul Atanassov will spend just a little more than another year behind bars. Atanassov, 28, was originally charged with 14 offences, including sexual assault and child luring. He ultimately pleaded guilty to sexual interference and making child pornography.
“I have no doubt both [victims] have suffered and will continue to suffer life-altering emotional and psychological harm because of Mr. Atanassov’s offending,” B.C. Supreme Court Justice Martha Devlin told the court on Thursday. “Mr. Atanassov presents as an offender who at the time, willingly
engaged in careless, high-risk, self-indulgent behaviour and who had deficiencies in his moral compass.”
At his sentencing hearing, the court heard how Atanassov plied his victims with drugs and alcohol and repeatedly engaged in unprotected sexual intercourse with the younger of the two.
This “not only seriously violated her bodily integrity but also exposed her to additional health risks including the possibility of physical injury, pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease,” Devlin told the court.
The Crown argued that Atanassov minimized his culpability in the abuse, claiming his victims had deceived him about their ages. The girl’s age should have been readily obvious to him, the Crown argued.
APPLIANCES REPAIR SERVICE
Trina Hunt's husband charged with indignity
to human remains
The husband of Trina Hunt, whose remains were found near Hope, B.C., more than four years ago, has been charged with one count of indignity to human remains in connection with the unsolved homicide of the Port Moody, B.C., woman.
Iain Hunt, 52, was charged on Tuesday, according to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), but is not in custody. His first court appearance is scheduled for March 5 in Port Coquitlam.
IHIT has confirmed her death was a homicide, but how investigators reached that conclusion has not been revealed.
Trina Hunt, 48, was reported missing from her house in the Heritage Mountain neighbourhood by her husband on Jan. 18, 2021. But according to online court information, Iain Hunt is alleged to have interfered with his wife's remains on Jan 16, 2021, two days earlier. Hunts' remains were found near Hope in March 2021.
A charge of indignity to human remains "occurs when a person neglects to perform their legal duty to bury a dead human body, or if a person interferes in an improper, indecent or undignified way with a dead human body or human remains," according to police.
Stephanie Ibbott, who is married to Trina Hunt's cousin, said she's upset that Trina's homicide remains unsolved.
"Honestly, disappointment that it's been four years, and that's all we've got," said Ibbott after Iain Hunt was charged Tuesday. "I mean, ultimately, this charge ties into Trina's murder, which is good. But we were hoping for murder charges."
Police lay charges in $47M Alberta-B.C. money laundering operation: 'One of the biggest'
A former police investigator says a recently uncovered money laundering scheme spanning B.C. and Alberta is among the largest he’s seen.
On Thursday, the RCMP’s Edmonton-based federal financial crime team announced the arrest of a B.C. man allegedly involved in organized crime and money laundering.
Investigators claim Harry Seo, 30, of Burnaby, and six others laundered proceeds of crime “via online transactions of illicit cannabis” in both provinces between September 2018 and August 2020 to the tune of $47 million. They say the criminal organization used Alberta and B.C. numbered companies, which operated as unregistered money services businesses.
Seo is also alleged to have operated illicit “cannabis-related” businesses in Edmonton and Burnaby.
Stephen Scott, a former Mountie who spent almost two decades investigating money laundering and asset forfeiture, was struck by the size of the alleged operation.
“Certainly for Alberta, it’s probably one of the biggest they’ve ever had. I’ve never seen anything in the media that comes close to that.”
Based on what police have said publicly, Scott said it is a rare case based solely on money laundering — rather than money laundering paired with other offences like drug trafficking or fraud.
2 women arrested after allegedly stealing catalytic converters: Burnaby RCMP
A 38-year-old woman from Surrey and a 39-year-old woman from Abbotsford were arrested after an alleged theft of catalytic converters in north Burnaby.
Mounties in Burnaby responded to reports of two women underneath a van parked near Brighton Avenue and Lougheed Highway on Jan. 22 around 4:30 a.m.
Corp. Mike Kalanj says the pair drove off before police arrived.
“Luckily, the caller gave us a pretty good description of the vehicle that the suspects fled in, and one of our officers was able to locate it in
the area, and two female suspects were arrested on scene.”
The suspects were reportedly arrested with multiple catalytic converters.
Kalanj says catalytic converter thefts have dropped in Burnaby recently, but this incident is a reminder that they still happen. He says it’s unlikely that the theft last month was connected to transnational crime.
The Burnaby RCMP says it will be recommending charges of vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, and a breaching conditions.
No parole for 12 years for BC woman who killed and dismembered ex
A woman cannot apply for parole for at least 12 years after she murdered her ex-boyfriend, cut his body up and disposed of it at numerous waterways around Nanaimo.
Paris Jayanne Laroche, 29, was found guilty of second-degree murder after the disappearance of Sidney Joseph Mantee, reported missing in 2020. B.C. Supreme Court justice Robin Baird rendered his decision Thursday, Feb. 6 at B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver.
During the trial, evidence was presented that Mantee had abused Laroche, choking her to the point of unconsciousness and verbally abusing her, sometimes threatening to kill her and her friends and family. Eventually, Laroche hit Mantee with a hammer numerous times while he slept and slashed his throat with a knife. She drained his body of blood, cut it up and disposed of the body parts over a period of months at areas such as Neck Point Park and Pipers Lagoon. A conviction of second-degree murder carries with it a mandatory
life sentence and Nick Barber, Crown counsel, sought parole ineligibility for 15 years while Glen Orris and Robyn Young, defence counsel, sought 10 years.
Laroche was initially charged with first-degree murder, but in his July ruling, Baird said that the threshold for first-degree murder hadn't been met. As Laroche acted after hearing an owl hoot – she saw it as a sign – the judge deemed it a spontaneous crime, as opposed to pre-meditated. At the same time, the judge said it wasn't an act of self-defence, as Mantee was asleep and not an immediate threat. Baird stated the killing was an act of fury and vengeance likely fuelled by Mantee’s multitude of transgressions, particularly the alleged abuse of Laroche’s cat the night before the murder. He did not accept that it had anything to do with selfpreservation or the protection of others. She is prohibited from reaching out to Mantee’s mother while serving her sentence. Laroche declined an opportunity to address the court.
Drug deaths in BC drop 13 per cent, hitting four-year low
The B.C. Coroners Service said toxic drug deaths in British Columbia were down 13 per cent last year, with the toll now lower than any year since 2020.
Chief Coroner Dr. Jatinder Baidwan said the decline is consistent with elsewhere in Canada and internationally, but doesn’t mitigate the fact that 2,253 people died of overdoses in B.C. last year, or the grief felt by their loved ones.
A report issued by the service said about 70 per cent of those who died were between the ages of 30 and 59, and nearly three-quarters were male. Baidwan said the data show a decline in fatalities over the last several months of 2024.
of 2,253
78 per cent of expedited testing last year.
B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne said in a statement that although there has been a decrease in deaths, it doesn’t diminish the grief that permeates our communities. The report said the highest number of overdose deaths were in Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions, accounting for 54 per cent of all deaths in 2024.
A public health emergency was declared in April 2016 over the toxic drug crisis, and since then 16,047 people in have died.
How does fentanyl get into the US?
Continued from Page 1...
Over 74,000 Americans died in 2023 after taking drug mixtures containing fentanyl, according to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
It is frequently mixed with other illicit drugs, leading many users to be unaware that the substances they are consuming contain fentanyl.
As little as a two milligram dose of fentanylroughly the size of a pencil tip - can be fatal.
Over the past decade, the global fentanyl supply chain has expanded, making it harder for law enforcement and policymakers to control.
China is the primary source of the precursor chemicals used to produce fentanyl.
Most fentanyl enters the US via Mexico
legitimate commercial goods, mislabelling the containers, using front companies, and shipping through third party countries.
The Trump administration has accused the Mexican government of colluding with the drug cartels. Mexico's President Sheinbaum says the claims are "slander."
In December, shortly after Trump had threatened Mexico with tariffs, the country's security forces announced their largest ever seizure of fentanyl - equivalent to around 20 million doses.
In 2019, China classified fentanyl as a controlled narcotic and later added some of the chemicals used to make it to the list.
Fentanyl continues to be the main driver of drug deaths in B.C., with the opioid detected in
Other Canadian provinces have also reported declines in drug deaths, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control says reported drug deaths were down 22 per cent in the United States in the year ending in August 2024.
Almost all (98%) was intercepted at the southwest border with Mexico. Less than 1% was seized across the northern US border with Canada. The remainder was from sea routes or other US checkpoints. According to the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Mexican criminal organisations - including the Sinaloa Cartel - play a key role in producing and delivering fentanyl, methamphetamine and other illicit drugs into the US.
The chemicals used to make fentanyl are sourced from China by traffickers and turned into the finished product in labs in Mexico before being smuggled into the US.
According to the DEA, the Sinaloa Cartel uses a variety of tactics to conceal shipments coming into Mexico, such as hiding the chemicals among
Despite this, the trade in other chemicals involved in the manufacturing of fentanyl - some of which can have legitimate purposes - remain uncontrolled, as those involved in the trade find new ways to evade the law.
President Trump has accused Canadaalongside Mexico - of allowing "vast numbers of people to come in and fentanyl to come in" to the US. According to data from the US Customs and Border Patrol, only about 0.2% of all seizures of fentanyl entering the US are made at the Canadian border, almost all the rest is confiscated at the US border with Mexico.
But in January, Canada's financial intelligence agency reported that organised criminal groups in Canada are increasingly involved in the production of fentanyl by importing chemicals used to make it and lab equipment from China.
Incarceration reduces reoffending rates in BC
Continued from Page 1...
While there have been many previous studies concluding that prison either has no impact or even influences increased levels of offending upon release, in most cases they examined populations in the United States.
“80 per cent of those studies were conducted in the United States, and almost all of them occurred during periods of mass incarceration,” says McCuish. “Canada is not the United States. Canada does not practise mass incarceration, and we don't have privatized prison systems, so we do need our own research to begin to investigate these themes.”
Because far fewer people are incarcerated in the Canadian justice systems, the proportion of people in prison who have committed serious crimes is higher. They are also especially likely to have experienced the most challenging environments.
To fully understand this population, McCuish’s research followed individuals from adolescence into their thirties and examined how they responded to imprisonment.
The researchers began interviewing youth in custody in British Columbia, starting in 1998 and continuing up until 2011. That gave the researchers a sample of about 1,700 individuals, whose paths
they followed from youth into adulthood. While the data does indicate that incarceration leads to a reduction in future offending, McCuish urges caution in extrapolating too far from these conclusions.
“We found that, in British Columbia, people who spend more time in prison end up engaging in less offending in the future,” he says. “We don't know, however, whether this is due to deterrence or due to rehabilitation processes. Are people not re-offending as much because they were deterred by their prison experience, or are they not reoffending as much because of the rehabilitative services that they received in prison, and that actually helped them reduce their offending upon release?” It is also possible that people released from prison are subject to closer supervision and monitoring, which in turns reduces reoffending.
McCuish plans to conduct further studies into the reasons for these findings and hopes his research will provide evidence to help policymakers make better informed decisions when creating new policies and guidelines.
“What I see as my job is to provide that evidence basis so that the decisions that policymakers make are actually informed by research and not just informed by what we think anecdotally,” he says.
Fiji sends most people through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme
The increasing role of labour mobility in the Pacific shows that over 100,000 Pacific Islanders have participated in labour schemes in Australia and New Zealand, showcasing the potential of labour mobility to enhance climate resilience.
This has been highlighted by the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations Maritino Nemani, who says that in June 2024, Fiji became the highest-sending country through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme.
Nemani says Fiji is both a sending and receiving country for labour migrants, and it is time for such a policy to be developed.
He says those we seek to assist are none other than our brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, cousins, and friends.
The Permanent Secretary says we need comprehensive policies to protect them and ensure safe and dignified migration.
Nemani also highlighted that this week, the International Organization for Migration and
the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, with the support of the International Labour Organization, facilitated Fiji’s first-ever Labour Mobility Policy consultation in Suva, marking a significant step in the country’s commitment to strengthening labour migration governance.
He adds that, with technical support from IOM Fiji and ILO through the Migration MultiPartner Trust Fund, the three-day workshop reinforced regional progress and underscored Fiji’s dedication to ensuring safe, orderly, and inclusive labour mobility.
IOM Fiji Chief of Mission, Solomon Kantha also highlighted the importance of the consultation, stating that this initiative reflects their collective commitment to tackling labour mobility challenges and advancing the objectives of the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration.
The consultation marks the beginning of the policy development process, with national consultations planned for later this year.
Taxis, minivans and boats on
Government has plans to roll out a new E-ticketing system that will eventually capture all modes of transportation that includes taxis, minivans and boats, said Deputy Prime Minister, Manoa Kamikamica.
He met with representatives from the bus industry and Vodafone Fiji yesterday.
Mr Kamikamica heard from bus operators on concerns regarding the transition in technology and the overall sustainability of the industry.
“We are rolling out the new E-ticketing system. The plan is to eventually capture all modes of Transportation, taxis, minivans and boats. It is a very exciting journey,” he said.
E-ticketing
radar
“There are teething problems and are being worked through.”
“Lots of hard work over 18 months and the system are taking shape. We are working with all stakeholders collaboratively.”
Vodafone Fiji’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Elenoa Biukoto yesterday outlined Vodafone’s role in supporting the industry through its role as the e-ticketing solution provider.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to continued engagement, with all parties agreeing to collaborate to enhance service delivery, improve transport efficiency, and address concerns from both the industry and the public.
Man who allegedly died in Police custody and his body dumped by officers in Nadi identified as Richard Mock
Family and friends have identified the man who is alleged to have died in police custody as Richard Mock.
A group of officers at Namaka Police station are also alleged to have dumped his body in Nasau, Nadi after realising he was dead.
Yesterday, newly appointed Police Commissioner, Rusiate Tudravu said the case is being investigated.
In the weekend, Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime, Mesake Waqa had stated investigations were at a critical stage.
On social media, a family member of Mr Mock has asked for justice for the deceased.
“1st they claimed you were found, then they said you were Indo Fijian, they described your wheel tattoo as an anchor, then they claimed they couldn’t ID you, all the while… it was them all along, another senseless death,” stated the social media post with a picture of Mr Mock.
His funeral will be held in Suva and those attending the funeral have been asked to wear something blue due to Mr Mock’s “love of the sea.”
Fiji Correction officers test positive for drug usage
Five more Fiji Correction officers were terminated today following positive drug test results.
FCS Commissioner Dr Jalesi Nakarawa has reiterated that his team remained committed to upholding the highest ethical and professional standards.
“Any officer violating our strict no-drug policy will face the full consequences of their actions. The safety, security, and credibility of our institution depend on the discipline and integrity of our officers,” he said.
“The FCS’s random drug testing initiative is part of its ongoing efforts to ensure a drugfree work environment and reinforce public confidence in the corrections system. Officers are subject to unannounced drug screenings,
Full arm of the law will come down hard on parents selling daughters’ photos – Kiran
The full arm of the law will come down hard on parents and guardians who take photos of their daughters and sell them for money or marriage purposes as the Child Protection Act has just been introduced.
This has been highlighted by the Minister of Women, Children, and Social Protection Sashi Kiran while speaking during a press conference at Civic Towers.
Kiran says the Ministry is concerned about all forms of child abuse that they are facing and the various reports they have been getting.
She says the officers at the Ministry are working around the clock to tackle these issues.
The Minister says the growing trend of small children being used for money, is getting out of
control and they are working collaboratively with all stakeholders to counter these.
Kiran stresses that if people are aware of these and they do not report them, they will be fined up to $5,000.
While also giving an update on the Pornography Taskforce, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communications Manoa Kamikamica says they will focus on online sexual exploitation and abuse materials.
and those who test positive are dealt with accordingly.
“FCS will continue to implement stringent measures to deter drug use, including increased officer testing and awareness programs. He urged all personnel to uphold their duties with honour and responsibility, reminding them of their critical role in rehabilitating and reintegrating offenders.”
Dr Nakarawa said reaffirmed their zerotolerance stance on drug use among its personnel, emphasizing the importance of maintaining integrity and professionalism within the Service.
“The FCS remains committed to ensuring that all its personnel adhere to the laws and policies governing their conduct, and it will not hesitate to take decisive action against any breaches.”
Journalist Union challenges controversial Peca law in IHC, calls it attack on media freedom
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) filed a lawsuit in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday against the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Peca law).
PFUJ President Afzal Butt, who described the act as an assault on media freedom, brought the complaint via Advocate Imran Shafique according to a report by Geo News.
"The Peca (Amendment) Act is unconstitutional and illegal, hence, the court should conduct a judicial review on it," the plea read as cited by Geo News.
The opposition parties, journalists, and media outlets criticized the lack of consultations and the terms of the Peca law, which was already problematic after the ruling coalition swiftly passed the controversial modifications from the National Assembly and the Senate.
In the petition, the journalists' organization said that the Peca (Amendment) 2025 expanded governmental control and curtailed free speech as reported by Geo News. According to the report, the Peca law also violates Articles 19 and 19(A) of the Constitution. It argued that the statute ought to be suspended as a result.
"The Peca (Amendment) gave the government unlimited censorship powers. Criminalising fake news without due process is unconstitutional and a violation of the media freedom," it maintained as cited by Geo News. According to the PFUJ, the law violated both Pakistani digital rights and international human rights.
Shafique claimed that because the government aimed to stifle free speech, the law limited the freedom of the media.
Pakistani pilgrims join Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, praise India's hospitality
A group of Pakistani pilgrims has arrived in Prayagraj to participate in the Maha Kumbh Mela,.. The pilgrims expressed gratitude to the Indian government for issuing their visas quickly, enabling them to take part in the spiritual event. They also praised the event's organization while sharing their joy at visiting various camps and meeting spiritual leaders present at the Mela.
Govind Ram Makhija expressed hope that the Indian government would continue to grant visas to devotees from Pakistan.
"We are here and we are very happy. It is very well organized and we have been very well served. We never even imagined that it could happen", he said.
He added that the joy he feels cannot be expressed in words. Another pilgrim, Ishwar Lal Makhija, praised the arrangements made for them. "We are thankful to the Indian government who had made a very good arrangement for us right from the station till here (camps)", he told ANI.
Priyanka, a first-time visitor to India, shared her excitement. "Feels great. It feels we are very close to our culture here... Everything here feels like we belong. Like our worship, our religious place, everything that we see, it feels very good," she said. SOUTH
Protesters raze Mujib’s residence in fresh wave of Bangladesh vandalism
Thousands of protesters set fire to the home of Bangladesh’s founding leader as his daughter, ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, called on her supporters to stand against the interim government.
Witnesses said several thousand protesters, some armed with sticks, hammers and other tools, gathered around the historic house and independence monument while others brought a crane and excavator to demolish the building late on Wednesday.
The demolition continued into Thursday, with much of the front of the house destroyed. Many people were seen breaking into it and taking steel
and wooden items and books from inside. The protest rally was organised alongside a broader call, dubbed “Bulldozer Procession”, to disrupt Hasina’s scheduled online address on Wednesday. Protesters, many aligned with the “Students Against Discrimination” group, voiced fury over Hasina’s speech they saw as a challenge to the newly formed interim government. Bangladesh on Thursday lodged a protest with India’s acting envoy saying that “false and fabricated comments” by deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina are a “hostile act” against Dhaka, a day after she delivered a virtual address to her supporters from exile in India.
Karachi witnesses surge in traffic accidents, with 99 incidents and 39 fatalities in first 37 days of 2025
Dhaka (Bangladesh), January 30 (ANI): The Interim Government in Bangladesh has expressed deep concerns over the reports of incidents of women being Karachi has witnessed a significant rise in traffic accidents, with 99 major incidents reported in the first 37 days of 2025, resulting in 39 fatalities, ARY News reported, citing the traffic police.
As per Ary News, six traffic accidents occurred in Karachi in the last 24 hours which resulted in the loss of lives of nine people and left nine others injured. Notably, the accidents involved heavy vehicles, including dumpers, trailers, and oil tankers. Citing the traffic police, Ary News noted that the first six days of February alone saw 32 accidents involving heavy traffic.
Three dumper accidents resulted in five fatalities, while 10 trailer accidents claimed 12 lives. Thirteen truck accidents resulted in 13 fatalities, the traffic police added.
In response to the rising number of accidents
taking place in the city, a four-member committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the accidents.
As per a report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) road safety in Pakistan has suffered because of past lack of strong leadership and management at the central and provincial levels.
The ADB report warned that unless the government implements strong measures, fatalities are estimated to increase by at least 33 percent by 2030.
It further noted that in urban areas, road design and operation remain car-focused, with poor safety standards for pedestrians, motorcyclists, three-wheeler occupants, and bicyclists. The report also highlighted the limited use of road signs and markings across the network, numerous uncontrolled access points to high-speed arterial roads, high-speed intersections, and the inadequate use of proven safety measures such as roundabouts or traffic signals.
Harrowing passage to US and back, Jaspal
stares at Rs 35L debt
Life has come to nought for Gurdaspur resident Jaspal Singh, whose journey to the “land of dreams” and back has been nothing short of harrowing — having to traverse the treacherous “Dunki” route, only to be sent back in a flight, shackled, with a mountain of debt to repay.
Jaspal, 36, who was deported after being caught by the US Customs and Border Protection agency for entering the country illegally, arrived home last night even as his family wondered how they would repay the Rs 35 lakh they had taken at an exorbitant rate of interest (36%) from a private money lender to send him abroad. For Jaspal’s mother, it was a relief to see her son back. At the same time, she was worried about her debt-ridden family’s future. Jaspal recalled entering the US on January 24 after an arduous journey through the
jungles of Panama. He was captured the same day by the agency officials and taken to a detention centre. Later, he was handcuffed and brought to the airport from where he was made to board the Amritsar-bound plane. On board, Jaspal said they were given some biscuits, bananas, potato wafers and soft drinks.
Jaspal was sent to the UK by a travel agent two years ago, with the promise of taking him to the US. This, however, never happened. In July last year, Jaspal made it to Panama and stayed in a city for six months. In January, he traversed the Panama rainforest along with other Punjabi youths. Jaspal lost his father while he was away. “It is the greatest loss. It is good to be home, but how will I repay the debt. And who will bring back my father?” he lamented.
Had to eat with handcuffs on: Haryana youth recalls 32-hr ordeal
Gaganpreet Singh (24) of Digoh village in Fatehabad, Haryana, reunited with his family in the early hours of Thursday after being deported from the US. His parents welcomed him with tears, holding him tightly after his long and arduous journey home.
Gaganpreet’s return was marked by a gruelling 32-hour ordeal as he made his way from the US to Amritsar. “There were 104 persons on the flight back to India, which left at 4 am on February 2. During the journey, we were offloaded twice for six hours before flying continuously for over 12 hours,” he recounted. The most harrowing part of the journey was being handcuffed throughout the flight. “We had to eat with our hands tied. The meals served included bread, chicken, fish and rice,”
conditions felt prison-like, as deportees were not allowed to stand and their phones were confiscated before they left the detention centre. Each deportee’s bag was marked with identification stickers for easy processing.
Gaganpreet’s journey to the US was arranged by an agent for Rs 16.5 lakh. His route took him from France to Spain, before attempting to cross the US border on January 22. However, he was apprehended immediately by the US authorities and placed in a detention centre until his deportation on February 2.
Prior to this, Gaganpreet had gone to the UK on a study visa in August 2022, where he juggled his studies with jobs at Pizza Hut and in a kitchen. However, financial difficulties forced him to drop out of the university and
Blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for defaming Punjabis by allowing the US Air Force plane to land in Amritsar, instead of Gujarat or Haryana, Warring said the BJP used every opportunity to defame Punjabis. “The PM should seek an apology from the US for humiliating Indians. Previously, people have been deported in civilian planes, but this time a wrong narrative has been created,” said the PPCC chief.
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said, “The deportees have claimed that they were handcuffed for 40 hours. Their feet were tied with chains. They weren’t even allowed to use the washroom. They were unshackled only after landing at the Amritsar airport.
They are not hardcore criminals. They are only ordinary citizens, who migrated to the US in an unauthorised manner hoping for a better future. Treating them as hardcore criminals is highly unjustified. I urge External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and the PM to take up the matter with the Trump Administration in the US as to why inhuman treatment was meted out to Indian deportees.”
Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh said to protect the fake Gujarat Model and defame Punjab, the US flight carrying deportees was deliberately landed in Amritsar, Punjab — even though most deportees were from Gujarat and Haryana.
Paid Rs 1 cr to agent, didn’t expect journey to US via ‘Dunki’ route
Mandeep Singh (29), a resident of Chohla Sahib who was deported from the US along with 30 other Punjabis, reached his native village last night. He shared the tragic journey to the US via ‘Dunki’ route.
Mandeep had left India two and a half years ago. He had gone to Spain where he was doing well. However, he always wanted to go to the US. After making significant savings while working in Spain, he contacted the agent who had helped him reach Spain. The agent assured him of a safe journey to the US. Mandeep claimed that he paid around Rs 1 crore to the agent to realise the ‘American dream’.
“I was sure of Donald Trump’s victory and asked the agent to send me before the US election results,” he said. Mandeep said the agent repeatedly assured him of a smooth passage. Following the assurances, Mandeep obtained a visa for Serbia, a Central European country. He first travelled to Dubai and reached Serbia via Armenia. From
reached Tijuana, a border city in Mexico. He was taken into custody by ‘donkers’ associated with the agent. There were many others like him waiting to cross the US border. Mandeep described his days in the custody of these ‘donkers’ as torturous, as they were brutally beaten up when they asked for food or other necessities.
After two weeks, it was Mandeep’s turn to cross the border. He walked nearly 120 km through the jungle. Along with other illegal immigrants, he finally entered the US only to be detained by border patrol agency officials.
The detainees were kept in a camp with no basic facility. When they sought information, the authorities dismissed their queries with a single word, “Trump”.During his two-week detention, Mandeep was neither provided legal aid nor visited by anyone to hear him out. Eventually, they were handcuffed and made to board a plane for deportation to India. “The journey from the detention camp to Amritsar was also painful. We
Indian-Origin CEO Aravind Srinivas Gives Open Challenge To Elon Musk Amid USAID Shutdown
Indian-origin CEO of Perplexity AI, Aravind Srinivas, has challenged Elon Musk to stop him from generating funding via USAID which has been shut by the Donald Trump administration.
The USAID or United States Agency for International Development has been shut down citing corruption. The decision was taken as part of Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) effort to cut government spending. It will reportedly no longer be an independent body and will be brought under the US State Department.
In a post on X, Srinivas said that he has secured funding and is considering raising $500 billion, sending open challenge to Musk who called USAID a "criminal organisation."
good idea. "Don't go down this road, Aravind. Elon is big enough to play this game. You're just starting out. Take care, seriously," one user commented. "Bold move, my man is on the next level. Just make sure your funding secured doesn’t end with SEC knocking on your door," said another.
"Considering raising $500B from USAID. Funding secured. Stop me if you can Elon Musk," he posted.
Naturally, many backed Srinivas on this but others opposed it saying a challenge to Musk isn't a
The USAID had been providing financial assistance to 130 countries since it was established as an independent agency in 1961. India too is a recipient and US reportedly invested $141 million on campaigns here in 2024.
Now many contractors of USAID were place on unpaid leave while several were fired as part of the costcutting efforts. Trump has accused "a bunch of radical lunatics" of running the body.
More than 10,000 people were employed by the USAID, according to NBC News, and most of them are based overseas. This agency is supposed to invest in nations with US interests, but it is has also been accused of meddling in other countries' affairs to cause regime change.
President Droupadi Murmu meets President of UN General Assembly, lauds his effort for "Pact
President Droupadi Murmu met with the President of 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly Philemon Yang and lauded his effort in the adoption of "Pact for the Future" in September of last year.
President Murmu assured Yang India will "continue to champion" the causes of Global South, including at United Nations.
"Mr Philemon Yang, President of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President appreciated his leadership in the adoption of the "Pact for the Future" in September 2024, and said that India will continue to champion the causes of the Global South, including at the UN" President of India said in a post on X.
of Future"
Philemon Yang met Murmu on the third day of his four day visit to India. He arrived in India on Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, Yang paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat in New Delhi. UN General Assembly adopted a "Pact for the Future" in September of last year which is designed to address 21st century challenges including climate change, conflict, and human rights.
The Pact covers a broad range of themes including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance. "We are here to bring multilateralism back from the brink," Guterres said.
Engaging with US to ensure deportees aren’t mistreated, Jaishankar tells Parl
Addressing the controversy surrounding the handcuffing and shackling of illegal migrants deported by the US, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today said, “Since 2012, the US rules provide for using ‘restraints’ on those being deported. Women and children are exempted.” India, he said, was engaging with the US government to ensure that those returning were not mistreated.
The minister was making a suo motu statement in the Rajya Sabha following an outrage in the country over the alleged mistreatment meted out to 104 Indian nationals who were shackled and handcuffed while being deported. They had landed in Amritsar on board a military plane yesterday.
Jaishankar said deportation had been going on for long. He cited figures since 2009 to say that hundreds of people were deported each year by the US to India.
US Air Force C-17 plane with their feet in shackles. “The US Border Patrol and partners successfully returned illegal aliens to India,
On the issue of handcuffs and shackles, the minister said, “The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has a standard operating procedure, effective from 2012, which provides for the use of restraints”. The ICE has informed that women and children are not restrained.
“For toilet breaks, deportees are unrestrained,” said the minister. This morning, the chief of the US
marking the farthest deportation flight yet using military transport,” he said.
In the Rajya Sabha, Jaishankar said it was for the ICE to decide what kind of plane it wanted to charter. “The procedure, whether it was a military aircraft or a chartered flight, remains the same,” the minister said. Answering questions from MPs, Jaishankar said an advance notice had been given by the US.
Border Patrol, Michael Banks, posted a video on X showing Indian nationals walking up the ramp of the
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his US counterpart Pete Hegseth today spoke on the phone and agreed to work on a 10-year comprehensive framework (2025-35) to bolster the India-US defence partnership, especially in the spheres of intelligence, logistics, operational and industrial engagement. A statement issued by the Ministry of Defence said the two ministers reviewed the extensive India-US defence cooperation covering multiple domains — land, air, maritime and space. They appreciated the “ongoing and remarkable
expansion” of the bilateral defence partnership, and reaffirmed their commitment to deepen the ties.
The two ministers decided to work together on technology cooperation, integration of defence industrial supply chains, enhanced interoperability, logistics and information sharing and joint military exercises.
This was the first time the two leaders spoke since Hegseth took over after Donald Trump administration was sworn-in on January 20.
Chandrayaan-4 launch in 2027, to bring moon rocks
India will launch the Chandrayaan-4 mission to bring back samples of moon rocks to the Earth in 2027, Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said. Chandrayaan-4 will involve at least two separate launches of the heavylift LVM3 rocket that will carry five different components of the mission which will be assembled in orbit.
“The mission aims at collecting samples from the moon's surface and bring these back to the Earth,” he said.
India and Israel successfully held the 13th round of Staff Talks from February 3 to 6 in New Delhi, which focused upon improving several areas of defence cooperation such as joint training, technology sharing, and regional security.
The Additional Directorate General of Public Information of the Indian Army shared details of the talks on X, stating, "The 13th India-Israel Staff Talks were successfully conducted from 03 to 06 February at New Delhi, India. The discussions focused on enhancing defence cooperation, joint training, technology sharing and regional security."
Highlighting the importance of the dialogue, the Indian Army added, "This strategic dialogue reaffirms the commitment to mutual growth in defence capabilities, fostering deeper bilateral ties between the two nations united by shared interests and trust." India and Israel cooperate across several fronts. In 2024, the two countries held the 17th India-Israel Foreign Office Consultations, reflecting the strength of the India-Israel Strategic Partnership. The discussions included an exchange
of views on the prevailing situations in West Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
In another recent development, on Thursday, the Chief Operations Officer of the Royal Bhutan Army, Lieutenant General Batoo Tshering, concluded his visit to India. The Indian Army stated that the visit reinforced bilateral military cooperation, explored new avenues for defence collaboration, and reaffirmed the enduring bond between the armies of both nations.
In a statement shared on X, the Indian Army said that India and Bhutan share a "deep-rooted friendship" based on historical ties, mutual respect, and cultural affinity. Lieutenant General Tshering was on a six-day visit to India from February 1 to February 6.
US military plane carrying deported Indians
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Journalists have gathered outside police barricades near an Indian Air Force building in Amritsar.
There are 104 Indian deportees on the flight and they will be processed separately from regular passengers before boarding buses to their home states, including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.
Trump is increasingly using US military planes to return individuals to their home countries.
However, deportation flights to India are not new. In the US fiscal year 2024, which ended in September, more than 1,000 Indian nationals had been repatriated by charter and commercial flights.
In October, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported more than 100 Indian nationals who lacked legal grounds to stay in the US on a chartered flight, part of a rising trend in removals to India.
That flight carrying adult men and women was also routed to Punjab, close to many deportees'
places of origin. No precise breakdown of hometowns was provided.
Much of the migration from India to US appears to originate from the Sikh-dominated state of Punjab and neighbouring Haryana, which has traditionally seen people migrating overseas. The other source of origin is Gujarat, Modi's home state. "That has been part of a steady increase in removals from the US of Indian nationals over the past few years, which corresponds with a general increase in encounters that we have seen with Indian nationals in the last few years as well," Royce Bernstein Murray, assistant secretary at the US Department of Homeland Security told a media briefing in October.
Encounters refer to instances where noncitizens are stopped by US authorities while attempting to cross the country's borders with Mexico or Canada.
A total of 5,477 Indians have been deported from the US by ICE between 2018 and 2023, according to official figures. More than 2,300 were deported in 2020, the highest in recent years.
