Punjabi radio host sentenced to 5 and half years in Prison for drug trafficking

April 16, 2026

Sukhwinder Kaur Sangha, a Punjabi radio broadcaster residing in Canada, was arrested on charges of smuggling drugs from the United States. On April 15, the Supreme Court of British Columbia sentenced her to five and a half years in prison. The 47-year-old Sangha hails from a family with roots in Nakodar, in the Jalandhar district; however, she was born in Prince George, Canada.

Over the past decade, she had carved a niche for herself in the Punjabi radio industry. She works as a freelance radio and television host. In a relatively short span of time, she emerged as a prominent figure within the Punjabi community. Her shows frequently featured high-profile politicians, police officials, and celebrities.

Sangha’s arrest has come as a shock to people of Punjabi origin living in Canada. Many have expressed concern that this incident risks casting the entire Punjabi community in a negative light by associating them with drug trafficking.

Sangha Offered Various Excuses in Court

During the court proceedings, Sangha maintained her innocence, claiming that she had traveled to Washington to attend her aunt’s funeral and was subsequently coerced into committing the act under duress. However, Justice John Gibb-Carsley completely dismissed these claims.

Cases of hate speech directed against Punjabis in Canada have already been on the rise; following this incident, the Punjabi community is once again likely to come under intense scrutiny from the wider Canadian public.

What did the court say? 

While delivering the verdict in the New Westminster court, the judge emphasized that drug trafficking is not merely a criminal offense; rather, it has devastating consequences for society.

The judge expressed hope that Sangha would utilize her time in prison for self-reflection. For the Punjabi community in British Columbia, it is considered a major shock that Sangha, who frequently raised her voice against crime on her shows, has herself become embroiled in a grave offense such as drug trafficking.