COLUMBUS, Ohio – Banmeet Singh, an alleged leader of a Transnational Criminal Organization that shipped diverted prescription and illicit drugs around the world, was extradited to the U.S. from England, on March 19.
Singh was apprehended by the National Crime Agency at his residence in Coventry, England, on April 26, 2019.
In early 2020, he filed an appeal with the European Human Rights Court against his extradition to the U.S. Then in January 2023, Singh withdrew his appeal and on March 2, the court ruled in favor of his extradition. He arrived in Columbus, Ohio Sunday afternoon and is scheduled to appear in court later today.
A DEA investigation identified at least eight U.S.-based distribution cells supplied by the Singh Drug Trafficking Organization which distributed controlled substances throughout the U.S. One of the cells, connected to Columbus, Ohio, was the source of supply for a February 2017 seizure of 59 kilograms of MDMA, 19 kilograms of ketamine and other illicit substances.
“The extradition of Mr. Singh underscores the collaboration and cooperation between our law enforcement partners around the world, as well as our commitment to combat transnational organized crime,” said DEA Detroit Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene. “This investigation clearly demonstrates that there is no place to hide in the dark web. We will find you and you will be held accountable.”
The Attorney General designated Singh as an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Consolidated Priority Organizational Target (CPOT) in February 2019. CPOTs are leaders of the most prolific drug trafficking/money laundering organizations that have the greatest impact on the U.S. illicit drug supply.
“IRS-CI special agents use their financial expertise to uncover illegal activity here, abroad, and on the dark web,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson. “IRS will continue to push the agency to the forefront of complex cyber and cryptocurrency investigations and work collaboratively with our law enforcement partners to investigate those laundering drug proceeds.”
“Drug traffickers and their illicit activities have ravaged our Ohio communities,” said Homeland Security Investigations Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “The work to hold international perpetrators accountable is a team effort and we will continue to work with our partners at the DEA, IRS, USPS, and at the state and local level to seek justice.”
“This investigation is a perfect example of what happens when different law enforcement agencies pool their resources and expertise to achieve a common goal… to protect the citizens of Columbus, Ohio and its surrounding communities, from the many perils of illegal and dangerous drugs,” said United States Postal Inspection Service Pittsburgh Division Inspector in Charge Lesley C. Allison.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Substantial support and assistance in this investigation were provided by the DEA Special Operations Division, DEA London Country Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Ohio, Upper Arlington Police Department, Columbus Police Department, and the National Crime Agency in the United Kingdom.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A revised version of this story was updated to correct an error in a court date.