U.S. judge orders Canadian politician detained on drug charges

A Canadian politician arrested on drug charges was ordered detained yesterday pending trial, though a federal judge said she'd reconsider once she sees the politician's medical records.

Ravinderjit Puar of Vancouver, B.C. — who also goes by her married name, Ravinderjit Puar Shergill — was arrested June 30 with three other people after a monthlong investigation that began with a tip from a confidential source, according to U.S. District Court records.

Charging papers said that during meetings in Kent and Auburn, Puar arranged the sale of 2,800 "blue dolphin" Ecstasy pills to an undercover agent for $9,800, and that she offered 15,000 more pills.

Puar, who sought the New Democratic Party's nomination to run for the Vancouver-Kensington seat for the British Columbia Legislature in May, is charged with conspiracy to distribute Ecstasy and distribution of Ecstasy.

In recorded conversations with an undercover agent, Puar was taped saying she didn't want any "heat" because she and her father are both politicians, according to charging papers.

Her father, Kalwant Singh Puar, attended yesterday's hearing but declined to comment to the press. He has been a high-profile supporter of the Canada's health minister, The Vancouver Sun reported yesterday.

Court documents allege that Ravinderjit Puar also said anyone who double-crossed her would be killed.

"This is a violent group," Assistant U.S. Attorney Karyn Johnson said. "The comments [Puar] made are evocative of the kind of violence this group is capable of."

Puar's lawyer, Bill Hines, called allegations that his client was involved in organized crime "outrageous." He said that while there was probable cause to believe she committed a drug crime, there was no evidence of actual violence, just a lot of "huffing and puffing."

Hines said Puar works at a cancer center and that a lump recently found in her breast may require urgent treatment. U.S. Magistrate Mary Alice Theiler agreed to reconsider the detention order after reviewing records from Puar's doctor.

One of Puar's co-defendants, Sarbjit Singh Virk, was ordered detained pending trial, while two others — Kamaljit Singh Ghag and Sarbjit Singh Sandhu — were released with conditions.