Stolen vehicles, heavy equipment among items found during Whatcom County arrest

WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement on March 5, 2026, regarding an investigation and subsequent arrest of 3 person suspected of selling drugs and reselling stolen property. The proceeds of their illegal activities were then believed to have been laundered through what appeared to be a legitimate business.

According to the statement, since 2025 investigators with the Whatcom Regional Drug Task Force (WRDTF) and the DEA Bellingham Resident Office, assisted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), have been investigating the coordinated illegal activities of the following persons.

Tinesh Gupta, age 47 and of Bellingham
Sahajpal Singh, age 27 and of Bellingham
Major Singh Sidhu, age 52 and of Kent, WA

It was believed that the 3 operated a small-scale criminal organization selling cocaine and fentanyl, reselling stolen property for profit and then laundering the proceeds under the guise of legitimate business. Much of the illegally obtained money was transferred into cryptocurrency using financial institutions.

On February 26, 2026, a search warrant was served on Gupta’s property near Lake Samish.

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The following was discovered during the search.

2 loaded handguns, four rifles and a shotgun (of which one handgun and one shotgun were confirmed stolen)
multiple bags containing suspected drugs and drug residue (field tested presumptive positive for both cocaine and fentanyl)
notebooks containing a suspected drug transaction register and drug manufacturing instructions and notes
multiple cell phones

Also, a significant amount of property (including vehicles, ATVs, heavy equipment and trailers) was suspected or reported to be stolen, totaling at least $200,000.

Gupta, Singh and Singh Sidhu were onsite at the time of the search warrant and detained without incident. Singh and Singh Sidhu were booked that day into the Whatcom County Jail. Gupta experienced a medical emergency and was transported to PeaceHealth St Joseph Medical Center for treatment. He was booked into jail on March 4, 2026.

The suspects currently face the following felony charges in Whatcom County Superior Court.

Tinesh Gupta (bail set at $300,000 bond)
- no formal charges filed yet according to court records as of March 7, 2026
- charged at booking into the jail with the following
  - leading organized crime
  - 2 counts of money laundering
  - 2 counts of delivery of a controlled substance
  - 2 counts possession with intent to deliver controlled substances
  - 1st-degree trafficking in stolen property
  - 4 counts of possession of a stolen motor vehicle
  - 1st-degree possession of stolen property >$5,000
  - 2 counts of possession of a stolen firearm
  - reckless endangerment
Sahajpal Singh (bail set at $100,000 bond or $10,000 cash)
- 2 counts of possession of controlled substances
- possession of a stolen vehicle
- 1st-degree possession of stolen property
- unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien
Major Singh Sidhu (bail set at $25,000 bond or $2,500 cash)
- 2 counts of possession of controlled substances

As of March 7, 2026, all 3 suspects remained in custody in the Whatcom County Jail pending being able to post bail.

WRDTF is a multi-agency task force comprised of members from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Bellingham Police Department and Ferndale Police Department.