Calgary, Alberta, Canada: A 28-year-old Indian-origin truck driver, Surj Singh Salaria, reportedly residing in Calgary, has been arrested after authorities discovered nearly 77 kilograms of cocaine concealed in his truck while he attempted to enter Canada from the United States in September.

According to reports, the Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) in Alberta, which includes members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Federal Policing Northwest Region, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and the Calgary Police Service, launched a criminal investigation following the seizure.

Salaria now faces multiple charges, including importing a controlled substance under Section 6(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking under Section 5(2) of the same Act, and attempting to export restricted or regulated goods under Section 160 of the Customs Act.

He appeared before the Alberta Court of Justice on October 27, where his bail request was denied.

The case has surfaced amid increasing scrutiny of Indian-origin truck drivers in Canada and the US, as both nations continue to grapple with cross-border drug trafficking concerns.

So far, limited information has been released about Salaria, apart from his Calgary residency. It remains unclear whether he holds legal resident status in Canada or entered the country through irregular migration channels.

In recent months, two major truck accidents in the United States, both involving Sikh drivers, have intensified the debate around licensing standards and community profiling in North America. This has led to concerns within the Sikh community, with US Assistant Attorney General Harneet Dhillon publicly condemning the targeting of law-abiding Sikh and Indian-origin drivers due to the actions of a few individuals.