Eight arrested in pot-related British Columbia kidnapping case

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — Eight people have been arrested in an abduction case that involves the smuggling of marijuana into the United States, police say.

Each of those being held is charged with kidnapping, unlawful confinement, threatening, assault causing bodily harm and possession of a weapon, municipal police Constable Shinder Kirk said yesterday.

Ten police agencies were involved in the investigation with local officers taking the lead because the man who was abducted lives in Abbotsford, a few miles north of Sumas, Wash., Kirk said.

Those being held are Jasvinder Singh Mangat, 26, of Burnaby; Surpreet Singh Johal, 26, Surrey; Harjit Singh Deo, 21, New Westminster; Davinder Singh Johal, 19, Vancouver; Hirinder Kaur Deo, 24, New Westminster; Surjit Kaur Deo, 33, New Westminster; Garinder Singh Deo, 18, New Westminster; Jethinder Singh Narwal, 30, Surrey.

The case stems from the reported abduction of a 29-year-old man by six men and two women early on May 2 in Coquitlam, a Vancouver suburb.

"He was in the process of leaving work when he was confronted and forced into a vehicle," Kirk said. "He was transported to various locations throughout greater Vancouver."

Eight people were arrested at a home in New Westminster "after investigators secured the release of the victim on the evening of May 4," police said.

Kirk would not elaborate on the marijuana connection.