A former B.C. border guard accused of allowing $75 million worth of cocaine to cross into Canada has been granted bail -- against the wishes of the U.S. government.
Abbotsford resident Jasbir Singh Grewal, 38, was released on $350,000 bail after his arrest last month, when a B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled that he is not a serious flight risk.
American authorities believe that between 2007 and 2008, Grewal allowed 3,000 kilograms of cocaine to pass through the Aldergrove border crossing into Canada.
He was allegedly paid $60,000 per load of between 200 and 300 kilograms of cocaine, which was packed into RVs directed to travel through Grewal's lane at the border.
According to court documents, most of the evidence against Grewal comes from police informants said to be involved in the alleged trafficking scheme.
The U.S. government opposed his release from prison, arguing that his detention was necessary to guarantee that he'll appear in an American court to face charges of conspiracy to export cocaine.
But Judge Richard Goepel wrote that Grewal, who has no criminal record, does not have connections in other countries and has remained in B.C. despite being aware of the charges against him for 16 months or more.
"Mr. Grewal is presumed innocent. He has no history of criminal activity and there is little likelihood he will be involved in any criminal activity while released. He is not a serious flight risk," Goepel wrote in the decision granting bail.
Grewal was born and raised in Duncan, and has two children with his wife, who is a parole officer.
"There is little reason to believe that he will flee and leave his family and roots behind," Goepel wrote.
According to the terms of Grewal's bail, put up by his parents, he must surrender his passport and travel documents and remain in B.C. until he is extradited to the U.S. to face the charges against him.
Grewal does not face prosecution in Canada. He was arrested in 2009 for breach of trust and drug-related offences, but released without charge.
