A Surrey man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to four drug trafficking-related charges related to a dial-a-dope operation in Edmonton

Manjot Singh Gill, 28, waived his case to B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster for disposition, where Justice Tina Dion sentenced him. On Nov. 20, 2024, Gill pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing more than $5,000 in Canadian currency, possessing fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine, and breaching a probation order.

Dion noted in her that 259 police officers and "civilians" were involved in the seven-month investigation into Gill and a co-accused whom she described as "leaders of a drug ring which operated in Edmonton, Alberta, with drugs being provided out of Calgary, with some also from British Columbia."

"The operation was selling fentanyl at wholesale and commercial levels, as well as cocaine and methamphetamine," the judge noted. "Mr. Gill and his associates trafficked in a sophisticated fashion. They used pseudo names, changes cellphones, car rentals and stash pads on a regular basis. Some of the operatives worked a three-week-on/three-week-off schedule."

Gill also sold drugs to undercover police officers, the court heard. He had a prior criminal conviction in 2018 on five charges – three related to trafficking, one for dangerous driving, and another for failing to stop at an accident scene – out of Surrey provincial court where he was sentenced to 18 months in jail and 18 months probation.

Gill was born in India and came to Surrey with his family when he was one year old.

"I find that the proposed eight-year global sentence gives adequate weight to the principles of denunciation, deterrence and protection of the public. It addresses Mr. Gill's personal circumstances and that of the offences, and it is within the range of sentencing in this province for similar offences," Dion concluded.

Meantime, Surrey fatal illicit drug overdose statistics revealed at a recent Surrey Police Board meeting indicated 217 deaths in 2024 – 18 per month – with 74 per cent of them men and 70 per cent of victims aged 30 to 59.