Drug suspect is arrested

CALEB HEERINGA

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Federal agents arrested a Vancouver, B.C., man accused of being part of a drug-smuggling operation that was busted at the Canadian border in Blaine last year.

Charles Lai, 42, was taken into custody over the weekend in Miami as he exited a cruise ship, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Lai will be moved to Seattle, where he will be charged with conspiracy to transport marijuana and cocaine and possession of a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime.

Authorities said Lai paid middlemen to transport the drugs from a storage unit in Bothell to Vancouver, B.C.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested two of those alleged middle men, Richmond, B.C., residents Shminder Johal, 34, and Herman Riar, 26, on Oct. 24 after they crossed the Blaine Truck Crossing. Officials seized more than 500 pounds of cocaine and three guns from the pair, according to the attorney’s office.

Former Canadian border agent Baljinder Kandola, 35, of Surrey, B.C., also faces charges after being arrested on suspicion of letting Riar and Johal cross the border with the drugs and taking a cut of the money the group made.