Ont. police seize church silverware, gold bars, drugs and cash totalling $175K
A 50-year-old Parry Sound man faces multiple drug and proceeds-of-crime charges after Ontario Provincial Police executed a search warrant at a Gibson Street residence on July 15.
Officers with the OPP street crimes unit, along with members of the West Parry Sound detachment, seized cash and gold bars valued at more than $30,000 as well as suspected cocaine, heroin and hydromorphone with an estimated street value of $145,000.
OPP - PS - SEIZURE - 2
Ontario Provincial Police seized seized cash and gold bars along with suspected cocaine, heroin, hydromorphone and drug trafficking paraphernalia from a residence in Parry Sound, Ont., on July 15, 2025, during the execution of a warrant. (Supplied/Ontario Provincial Police)
Stolen church property recovered
Police also located silverware stolen from Trinity Anglican Church in Parry Sound in February 2024.
OPP - PS - SEIZURE - 3
Ontario Provincial Police seized recovered silverware stolen from Trinity Anglican Church in February 2024 from a residence in Parry Sound, Ont., on July 15, 2025, during the execution of a warrant. (Supplied/Ontario Provincial Police)
Charges laid
The accused faces eight counts of drug trafficking and three charges related to possession of proceeds of crime.
The man is being held for bail and scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
In a related social media post, OPP called the investigation a win for 'public safety.'
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Global News
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Edmonton police to hold town hall as South Asian community faces new extortion threats
Edmonton's South Asian community dealt with threats of violence for years as police investigated a series of extortions known as Project Gaslight. Now, police say the threats have started again. 'It honestly is something that probably spiked probably a month, six weeks ago,' Edmonton Police Service interim chief Devin LaForce said on Thursday. LaForce said it's believed a recent arson and half a dozen extortions are connected to the latest threats, and there are links to a high-profile crime group in India. The people perpetrating the crimes on the ground are different than the cases from the Project Gaslight investigation, LaForce said, but there are believed to be connections at a higher level. 'These things are just incredibly complex with transnational crime elements, plus associations to crimes across the country,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'It seems to be different as far as the players that are involved, but some association and some linkages.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It seems to be different as far as the players that are involved, but some association and some linkages." What was Project Gaslight? From shootings to new or under-construction homes being torched, police investigated dozens of crimes in the Edmonton region between October 2023 and January of this year that investigators said were extortions by members of the South Asian community against their own people — in particular, home builders and affluent community members. The extortion scheme saw successful South Asian business people threatened for money in exchange for 'protection' and officials said failure to pay out led to arsons — primarily at under-construction homes — and drive-by shootings. The result? Tens of millions of dollars in damage and widespread fear in the community. Story continues below advertisement According to police, Maninder Singh Dhaliwal, 35, is believed to be the leader of the criminal organization responsible for the series of Project Gaslight extortions. A Canada-wide warrant was issued for him July 2024, when six other people were arrested. View image in full screen Maninder Dhaliwal, 35, is believed to be the leader of a criminal organization responsible for an arson extortion series in the Edmonton area, according to police. Courtesy / EPS He was arrested in the United Arab Emirates on separate criminal charges near the end of 2024, and is still incarcerated in the Middle Eastern nation as Canada works to negotiate an extradition — a process complicated by the lack of a treaty to do so between Canada and the UAE. That leaves federal officials in a difficult diplomatic dance. LaForce said Canada can ask for Dhaliwal to be handed over — but the UAE isn't required to honour the request. 'They have different rules,' he said. 'There's some nuances to it where it requires just a more complex negotiation. But definitely our government of Canada is certainly doing what they can in that space.' Story continues below advertisement How is the recent crime similar — and different? What is the Bishnoi gang? Edmonton police said the latest crimes are connected to what is known as the 'Lawrence Bishnoi gang' but in what way is still under investigation. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy LaForce said he was limited in what he could share, adding the information he receives from investigators is also limited due to the sensitive nature of the cases. India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) describes the group as a criminal gang headed by Lawrence Bishnoi, whose lawyer says he contests more than 40 cases accusing him of crimes such as murder and extortion. Bishnoi himself, a law graduate from the Punjab, has been in prison for more than a decade. The NIA alleges he runs his syndicate from jails in different states and internationally through a network of associates. In November 2023, police in Surrey and Abbotsford issued public warnings after business owners there began to receive threatening letters. Global News obtained a copy of one of the letters, which claimed to be from an 'Indian gang' and demanded $2 million in 'protection money' or the recipient would face retaliation. A leaked police bulletin said the suspects in B.C. were believed to be tied to the Bishnoi gang. 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'But once we actually dove deeper we are seeing connections across the country.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "But once we actually dove deeper we are seeing connections across the country." 5:32 Growing calls to label Bishnoi gang a terrorist group Sources have told Global News the Bishnoi gang is believed to be linked to the high-profile murder two years ago of B.C. gurdwara president Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Story continues below advertisement The World Sikh Organization said the gang also took credit for the killing of a Mississauga, Ont., businessman in May who was resisting extortion attempts. 'We're looking at a real crisis here in Canada with businessmen across Canada being extorted by Indian gangs, and the issue really here is that these aren't just Indian gangs in isolation,' Balpreet Singh with the World Sikh Organization told Global News last month. 'The problem here is that the head of this gang is in prison for the past 10 years. 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The town hall on Monday, July 28, is taking place at the Southwood Community League in Mill Woods. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the police presentation begins at 7 p.m. Tips can be reported anonymously Edmonton police reminded residents they can report tips anonymously to a third party: Crime Stoppers. Story continues below advertisement In B.C., Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers this week said it's taking the 'unusual step' of accepting tips from extortion victims amid ongoing threats and violence targeting South Asian businesses in Surrey, B.C., and elsewhere. Executive director Linda Annis said Tuesday they've received more than 70 extortion-related tips in the past 18 months or so, and have forwarded them all to police. Annis said it's a break from normal practice for the organization to accept tips from crime victims, since those in immediate need of help are usually encouraged to call police directly. 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