Violent extortion gang linked to Ontario towing turf war; many were on judicial release for other charges when arrested
Another large police probe in southern Ontario was linked to the tow truck industry, this time a large criminal network accused of extortion, fraud, and violence.
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Peel Regional Police said more than $4.2 million in assets were seized and 18 people were arrested, including two men alleged to be the bosses behind a network involved in two streams of criminality: one dedicated to extortion and violence, and the other to systematic fraud through staged car collisions rooted in the towing industry.
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Of the 18 charged, almost half were already on a form of judicial release for previous charges at the time of their arrest.
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Since their most recent arrest, three of the 18 were quickly released with an order to attend court at a later date. Of the 15 who were held in police custody pending a court appearance, seven have had that hearing, where all but one was released on bail. The remainder await a court hearing.
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In 2023 a wave of violent extortions — demands for large sums of money accompanied by threats of violence — targeted members of the South Asian business community in Peel, west and northwest of Toronto encompassing the cities of Mississauga and Brampton.
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'These threats escalated into a variety of different offences including drive-by shootings, arson, a variety of acts of violence that spread fear and insecurity, not just into our local community but it gripped international news,' said Peel's Chief of Police Nishan Duraiappah.
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Patrick Brown, mayor of Brampton, said the extortions and violence terrified his community.
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'Everyone was scared. They heard about these incidents and there was a real concern that we were only hearing the tip of the iceberg, that there's more and more of these very dangerous extortions happening.'
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The police response led to a task force formed last summer that led to a large probe named Project Outsource.
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The investigation pointed to two Brampton men who are now under arrested. Investigators allege Inderjit Dhami, 38, and Paritosh Chopra, 32, were at the top of the criminal organization's hierarchy.
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'They are charged with instructing the commission of an offense for a criminal organization,' said Peel's Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich. 'What that means is they were in charge of this organization and providing direction to others that were a part of it,' he alleged. 'This was a crime group who attempted to extort hundreds of thousands of dollars from our community with threats and also engaged in tow industry related violence and crimes like fraud.'
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Toronto Star
7 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Extortions, staged collisions, drive-by shootings: Peel police announce 18 arrests in ‘major' investigation into towing violence
What started as a police probe into extortions targeting the South Asian business community in Peel has ballooned into a major crackdown on tow truck violence across the GTA. 'We will not allow criminal organizations to victimize our community,' Peel police chief Nishan Duraiappah told a press conference Monday, flanked by investigators, politicians and three levels of police.
The Province
12 hours ago
- The Province
'We're done waiting': Surrey business owners say police are not doing enough to protect them
Safety forum held as extortion threats target South Asian businesses and individuals A bullet hole in the window of Satish Accounting in Surrey on June 16, 2025 Photo by NICK PROCAYLO / PNG A day after he organized a public forum to talk about extortionists targeting South Asian business owners in Surrey, organizer Satish Kumar says, 'My life is on the line. My family's life is on the line.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Kumar, the president of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Temple and owner of Reflections Banquet Halls, said authorities are not doing enough for South Asian businesses and individuals receiving threats from extortionists. Kumar's life was threatened after he said he wouldn't pay $2 million to an extortionist. He has since been targeted by two shootings. 'Nobody in Canada has $2 million in cash,' said Kumar. 'We don't have the money to pay these guys.' Surrey police say they have received at least 10 reports of extortion threats targeting South Asian businesses and individuals, and that the issue is not limited to their city. When the first calls came five or six months ago, Kumar ignored them and blocked the number. They began again a few weeks ago. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Most of the calls appear to come from New Zealand or Italy, said Kumar. 'This time, I picked up the phone, they asked me for the money and said we are going to kill me and kill my family,' said Kumar. He knows that refusing to pay, speaking out and organizing a safety forum only puts him in harm's way. 'When you stand up against violence, you may suffer from it,' said Kumar. At 2:15 a.m. on Saturday, Kumar's business Satish Accounting Services in Surrey was shot at. Bullet holes in the window of Satish Accounting in Surrey on June 16, 2025. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO / 10108340A A business he sold several years ago, Hub Insurance, was shot at on June 10. Kumar's Reflections Banquet Hall in Surrey was shot at in the early hours of June 7. Bullets broke a $23,000 window. Fear increased after Satwinder Sharma, a 56-year-old Abbotsford resident whose company supplies farm labour in B.C., was shot to death in a Surrey office building on June 11. Authorities have not said whether the killing is linked to extortion threats. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. At Sunday's safety forum, Kumar announced a $100,000 reward for tips leading to arrests in the extortion cases. 'We're done waiting,' said Kumar. 'We've gone to the police, to our MLAs, to our MPs. Today was not a plea. It was a declaration. If you're in a position of power and still not acting, we're going to start calling you out by name.' Sunday's safety forum was attended by political and policing leaders including Sukh Dhaliwal, MP for Surrey-Newton, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke, Public Safety Minister Gary Begg, Surrey Police Chief Norm Lipinski and RCMP Supt. Wendy Mehat. Surrey Police Services said they have launched a dedicated extortions investigations team with serious crime investigators and surveillance-trained officers. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'This team will operate independently but also work with other agencies and task forces,' said Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton of Surrey Police. Also involved is the RCMP unit that helps police Surrey as the new Surrey force continues to recruit officers. Surrey police officers, paramedics on the scene of a shooting at an office building in the Fleetwood area of Surrey on June 11, 2025. Photo by Shane MacKichan The Surrey Police Service plans to increase patrols in areas with higher densities of South Asian businesses, and increase communications and intelligence-sharing with the RCMP's national co-ordination and support team that was established to work with police departments in B.C., Alberta, Ontario and outside of Canada to address extortion. Houghton said the investigations are extremely complex because they cross provincial and international borders. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Extortion attempts are under-reported and the SPS is urging people to come forward with information, no matter how minor it might seem, or call Crime Stoppers. 'We need information from the public and business owners that may have been threatened,' said Houghton. 'Without that information, it is hard for police to get a true or accurate picture of how big a problem this is.' A former B.C. solicitor general, Kash Heed, has said he knows of several South Asian Canadians who have paid out between $3 million and $5 million to appease extortionists. Heed said the lack of trust of police has exacerbated the problem, and police need to do more to gain the trust of the South Asian community. Communication has been very limited between police and community members, said Heed. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The first thing the police need to do is ensure that this will remain quiet. When community members' anonymity is not protected, they are not going to come forward,' said Heed. 'They don't have any trust in the police going back to India, and that carries over to Canada. We have done a terrible job in ensuring the community that we have credible police.' Kash Heed in Vancouver on January 23, 2025. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO / PNG Heed also said the federal government needs to work with the governments in countries that are receiving the extorted funds. 'This can't be handled at a local level,' said Heed. Heed said extortionists are a mix of sophisticated international organized crime groups and local copycats, and both use extreme violence to enforce their demands. 'If they kill me, maybe the police will wake up,' said Kumar. dryan@ Read More Vancouver Canucks National Sports Vancouver Canucks Local News
Vancouver Sun
12 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Surrey business owner threatened by extortionists pushes back, offers $100,000 reward
A day after he organized a public forum to talk about extortionists targeting South Asian business owners in Surrey, organizer Satish Kumar says, 'My life is on the line. My family's life is on the line.' Kumar, the president of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Temple and owner of Reflections Banquet Halls, said authorities are not doing enough for South Asian businesses and individuals receiving threats from extortionists. Kumar's life was threatened after he said he wouldn't pay $2 million to an extortionist. He has since been targeted by two shootings. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'Nobody in Canada has $2 million in cash,' said Kumar. 'We don't have the money to pay these guys.' Surrey police say they have received at least 10 reports of extortion threats targeting South Asian businesses and individuals, and that the issue is not limited to their city. When the first calls came five or six months ago, Kumar ignored them and blocked the number. They began again a few weeks ago. Most of the calls appear to come from New Zealand or Italy, said Kumar. 'This time, I picked up the phone, they asked me for the money and said we are going to kill me and kill my family,' said Kumar. He knows that refusing to pay, speaking out and organizing a safety forum only puts him in harm's way. 'When you stand up against violence, you may suffer from it,' said Kumar. At 2:15 a.m. on Saturday, Kumar's business Satish Accounting Services in Surrey was shot at. A business he sold several years ago, Hub Insurance, was shot at on June 10. Kumar's Reflections Banquet Hall in Surrey was shot at in the early hours of June 7. Bullets broke a $23,000 window. Fear increased after Satwinder Sharma, a 56-year-old Abbotsford resident whose company supplies farm labour in B.C., was shot to death in a Surrey office building on June 11. Authorities have not said whether the killing is linked to extortion threats. At Sunday's safety forum, Kumar announced a $100,000 reward for tips leading to arrests in the extortion cases. 'We're done waiting,' said Kumar. 'We've gone to the police, to our MLAs, to our MPs. Today was not a plea. It was a declaration. If you're in a position of power and still not acting, we're going to start calling you out by name.' Sunday's safety forum was attended by political and policing leaders including Sukh Dhaliwal, MP for Surrey-Newton, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke, Public Safety Minister Gary Begg, Surrey Police Chief Norm Lipinski and RCMP Supt. Wendy Mehat. Surrey Police Services said they have launched a dedicated extortions investigations team with serious crime investigators and surveillance-trained officers. 'This team will operate independently but also work with other agencies and task forces,' said Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton of Surrey Police. Also involved is the RCMP unit that helps police Surrey as the new Surrey force continues to recruit officers. The Surrey Police Service plans to increase patrols in areas with higher densities of South Asian businesses, and increase communications and intelligence-sharing with the RCMP's national co-ordination and support team that was established to work with police departments in B.C., Alberta, Ontario and outside of Canada to address extortion. Houghton said the investigations are extremely complex because they cross provincial and international borders. Extortion attempts are under-reported and the SPS is urging people to come forward with information, no matter how minor it might seem, or call Crime Stoppers. 'We need information from the public and business owners that may have been threatened,' said Houghton. 'Without that information, it is hard for police to get a true or accurate picture of how big a problem this is.' A former B.C. solicitor general, Kash Heed, has said he knows of several South Asian Canadians who have paid out between $3 million and $5 million to appease extortionists. Heed said the lack of trust of police has exacerbated the problem, and police need to do more to gain the trust of the South Asian community. Communication has been very limited between police and community members, said Heed. 'The first thing the police need to do is ensure that this will remain quiet. When community members' anonymity is not protected, they are not going to come forward,' said Heed. 'They don't have any trust in the police going back to India, and that carries over to Canada. We have done a terrible job in ensuring the community that we have credible police.' Heed also said the federal government needs to work with the governments in countries that are receiving the extorted funds. 'This can't be handled at a local level,' said Heed. Heed said extortionists are a mix of sophisticated international organized crime groups and local copycats, and both use extreme violence to enforce their demands. 'If they kill me, maybe the police will wake up,' said Kumar. dryan@
