Pubdate: Thu, 04 Dec 2014
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2014 Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact: http://www.edmontonsun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.edmontonsun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Page: 7

TORY MP RESPONDS TO BROTHER'S ARREST IN DIAL-A-DOPE OP BUST

Conservative Edmonton Sherwood Park MP Tim Uppal said he learned 
through news reports that his younger brother had been charged in a 
dial-a-dope operation busted by Edmonton city police.

"Yesterday, I learned through the media of charges against my 
brother," said Uppal, 40, Minister of State for Multiculturalism, in 
an email response on Wednesday.

"I have always spoken out against drugs in our communities," added 
Uppal, elected to the House of Commons in 2008 and appointed Minister 
of State for Democratic Reform in 2011 before his current 2013 appointment.

"Anyone found guilty of such offences should face the full force of the law."

A tip from the public led members of the Edmonton police Specialized 
Traffic Apprehension Team (STAT) to a large stash of weapons and 
drugs at three homes on the city's  southside. On Nov. 20, officers 
searched a vehicle and three homes on the city's southside and seized 
a .38 special revolver and a .25 semi-automatic pistol with the 
serial number removed. A Taser, hatchet, cocaine press, digital 
scales, $12,000 cash, $26,900 worth of cocaine, 1,585 grams of buff, 
16.6 grams of hashish, and 90.2 grams of marijuana worth 
approximately $1,350 was also seized.

Thirty criminal charges involving weapons and drugs have since been 
laid against four men, one of whom is Uppal's 28-year-old brother.

Raymanpreet Singh Uppal; John Edward Saul, 27; Jared Joseph Perner, 
25; and Arman Deep Singh Hanjrah, 21; were each charged with 
possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine), possession for 
the purpose of trafficking (marijuana), possession for the purpose of 
trafficking (hashish), and possession of stolen property over $5,000 
(proceeds of crime). Uppal was also charged with possession of an 
offensive weapon dangerous to public
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