Multi-agency Whatcom County organized crime investigation leads to three arrests
Whatcom County authorities arrested three men this week on suspicion of running a small-scale criminal organization, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators believe the men have been selling cocaine and fentanyl in Whatcom County, reselling stolen property for profit, and laundering money under the disguise of a legitimate business, according to Deb Slater with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. Citing the ongoing investigation, Slater said the department are not yet ready to release the name of the business.
The suspects are Major Singh Sidhu, 52, of Kent; Sahajpal Singh, 27, of Bellingham; and a 47-year-old from Bellingham who has not been charged. They are also suspected of transferring illegally obtained money into cryptocurrency using financial institutions, Slater said.
The Whatcom Regional Drug Task Force and the DEA Bellingham Resident Office, assisted by Homeland Security Investigations, have been investigating the three men since last year, according to Slater.
A search warrant was served Feb. 26 near Lake Samish on a property belonging to the 47-year-old. Officers found two loaded handguns, four rifles and a shotgun at the property. Slater said the shotgun and one of the handguns are stolen property.
Deputies also found multiple bags containing substances that field-tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl. The search also turned up multiple phones and notebooks containing suspected drug transactions and manufacturing instructions and notes, Slater told The Herald.
There was also a significant amount of equipment and vehicles suspected to be stolen property, including an ATV, vehicles, heavy equipment and trailers totaling more than $200,000, according to Slater.
The three men were at the property at the time of the search warrant and were detained without incident. Two of the men were taken to Whatcom County Jail, but the 47-year-old experienced a medical emergency and was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center, according to Slater. He was taken to jail March 4.
The 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of leading organized crime, two counts of money laundering, delivery of a controlled substance-fentanyl, delivery of a controlled substance-cocaine, possession with intent to deliver-fentanyl, first-degree trafficking in stolen property, four counts of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, first-degree possession of stolen property, two counts of possession of a stolen firearm and reckless endangerment, for a total of 14 class B felonies, one gross misdemeanor and leading organized crime, which can be a class A or B felony.
Singh has been charged with two counts of manufacture, deliver or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a schedule 2 narcotic, possession of a stolen vehicle, first-degree possessing stolen property and alien in possession of a firearm for a total of four class B felonies and a class C felony.
Singh Sidhu has been charged with two counts of manufacture, deliver or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a schedule 2 narcotic, a class B felony.
This story was originally published March 6, 2026 at 10:56 AM.
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