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Eight drug and weapons charges dropped against Abbotsford man

Navpreet Dhaliwal was among three 19-year-olds arrested last September
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Abbotsford Police seized items including cocaine, fentanyl and cash during a bust in February. Sukhjit Mahil was charged in connection with the seizure. (Abbotsford Police Department)

Six drug charges and two weapon charges have been dropped against a 20-year-old Abbotsford man.

Navpreet Dhaliwal was among three men – all 19 years old at the time – arrested and charged in September 2017 with a total of 14 offences, including trafficking in fentanyl, cocaine, meth and MDMA.

At the time, the Abbotsford Police Department said the three were tied to the ongoing Lower Mainland gang conflict.

Dhaliwal and co-accused Sukhjit Malhi, 20, initially each faced six charges, but two more were later added.

They each faced six charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking, one count of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and one count of possessing a prohibited firearm.

All charges were dropped against Dhaliwal on July 24 in Abbotsford provincial court, according to court records.

However, he is still appearing before the courts on five charges from March 2017 in Abbotsford: four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of possessing an unauthorized firearm.

His next appearance on those charges is scheduled for Aug. 2 in Abbotsford.

All eight charges against Malhi are still proceeding from the September 2017 arrests, with his next court appearance scheduled for Sept. 27.

Malhi also faces charges for allegedly breaching his court-ordered conditions and being found in possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking in February of this year.

Police said their investigation turned up cocaine, fentanyl, cellphones, $2,500 cash and two vehicles, which will be considered for civil forfeiture (where the proceeds of crime are turned over to the government).

Also still proceeding before the courts is Ishaan Mutneja, the third man charged last September. He faces two charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking from that arrest and is due back in court on Aug. 22.



Vikki Hopes

About the Author: Vikki Hopes

I have been a journalist for almost 40 years, and have been at the Abbotsford News since 1991.
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