Posted: November 18, 2009 13:03:40 PST
Bellingham, WA
11/13/09
A joint investigation by the Northwest Regional Drug Task Force (DTF)*, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Border Enforcement Security Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air Operations resulted in the arrest of two men on various federal charges related to smuggling methamphetamine.
The DTF received a citizen tip of the possibility of a large amount of methamphetamine being smuggled through Bellingham on Friday 11-13-2009. The DTF, ICE and the DEA investigated the tip. At approximately 3:40 PM (11/13/09), in the 4100 blk of Meridian Street, investigators identified two men that they believed may be involved with the case.
The two men were discovered to be in possession of over 5 lbs of crystal methamphetamine [$125-200K street value]. The drugs are believed to have come from Mexico via Fresno CA with the final destination to be the Vancouver B.C. area.
Arrested: Mandeep Gill, 32, of Bellingham
Avtar Singh Sidhu, 36, of Fresno, CA
Both men were booked into the Whatcom County Jail then transported to a federal detention facility in Seattle.
Federal charges pending against both men are Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Conspiracy to Export a Controlled Substance from the U.S., Exporting a Controlled Substance from the U.S. Avtar Singh Sidhu was additionally charged with another count of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Lt. Sucee commented, “We (law enforcement) greatly appreciate the tips we receive from the public in helping us make Whatcom County a better place to live.” Anonymous tips may be left for the Drug Task Force at (360) 676-6952.
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Media Contact: Lt. Rick Sucee, Commander, Northwest Regional Drug Task Force
*The Northwest Regional Drug Task Force is a combined law enforcement team comprised of detectives and prosecutors from the following agencies: Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office, Bellingham Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, Washington State Patrol, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the United States Border Patrol. The Executive Board of the Northwest Regional Drug Task force consists of Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo, Whatcom County Prosecutor David McEachran, Bellingham Police Chief Todd Ramsay, and Ferndale Police Chief Michael Knapp. The NWRDTF is partially funded by the U.S. Department of Justice under a Justice Assistance Grant—Drug Interdiction Program.
