Canada cops bust extortion network; 17 held, mostly of Punjab origin

Jalandhar: Peel Regional Police have arrested 17 men, mostly of Punjabi origin, busting an international criminal group targeting South Asian businesses in Canada and US.The FBI and multiple Canadian agencies were involved in the investigation that led to the dismantling of the network. The majority of these suspects have ties to a global criminal network known as ‘For Brothers', said police."The organised criminal network is allegedly responsible for a series of targeted attacks against the Region of Peel's South Asian community. They are believed to have been active in Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon, and British Columbia, with links to California," said Peel Regional Police.The 17 suspects are connected to 24 incidents, including arson and multiple shootings involving 324 rounds.Several businesses, including restaurants and trucking companies, were repeatedly targeted after refusing to comply with extortion demands, said the police statement.In one incident, investigators allege two of the accused were responsible for a shooting and arson at a residential address in Caledon, followed minutes later by a second shooting targeting a business in Brampton.In Dec 2025, a Joint Forces Operation commenced, which included Peel Regional Police and the Ontario Provincial Police, along with Canada Border Services Agency, FBI and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada.In April 2026, investigators executed a series of search warrants across multiple locations, resulting in the arrest of the 17 men, who face 106 criminal charges:Six individuals charged by Peel Regional Police may face immigration action, including possible removal from the country, after their criminal cases are finished. Separately, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) arrested and detained six individuals for immigration-related inadmissibility. For those arrested and detained by CBSA , three individuals have been removed, two are in CBSA custody; and one has been released by the Immigration and Refugee Board on conditions.During the investigation, police also seized six firearms, illicit drugs, cellphones, SIM cards and fraudulent identification cards. Investigators anticipate further arrests.ACCUSED ARRESTEDOntario | Iqbal Singh Bhagria, 25, Brampton; Akashdeep Singh, 24, Norval; Dilawarpreet Singh, 26, Brampton; Mandeep Singh, 21, Brampton; Prabhdeep Sohal, 22, Brampton; Partapbir Ghuman, 22, Brampton; Ajaydeep Singh, 29, Brampton; Navroop Singh, 24, Brampton; Rajan Singh, 28, Barrie; Amritjot Singh, 22, Brampton; Jashanpreet Singh, 22, Brampton; Guneet, 27, Brampton; Sukhwinder Singh, 32, Brampton; and Mohinder Singh, 30, BramptonBritish Columbia | Ravinder Singh, 25, Surrey; and Jashanbir Singh, 21, SurreyCalifornia | Gautam Gautam, 22, Manteca