Latest news with #CertifiedRoadside
NDTV
9 hours ago
- NDTV
Indian-Origin Suspects Among 18 Arrested In Canada Towing Industry Scam
Toronto: Eighteen people, most of them believed to be of Indian-origin, have been arrested and assets worth over 4.2 million Canadian dollars seized after police dismantled an organised criminal network linked to the towing industry in Canada's Ontario province, officials said. The arrests were made by Peel Regional Police as part of a Joint Force Operation with local and provincial law enforcement partners, it said in a press release on Monday. "More than $4.2 million in assets" were recovered from the possession of the 18 accused, following the dismantling of an organised criminal network linked to the towing industry", the release said. Although the release did not mention the nationalities of the accused, the names suggest that most of them are of Indian-origin. As of June 10, Haleh Javady Torabi, a 37-year-old woman from King City, and 17 men from Brampton have been arrested and charged in connection with the investigation, police said. The men were identified as Inderjit Dhami, 38; Paritosh Chopra, 32; Gurbinder Singh, 28; Kulwinder Puri, 25; Parminder Puri, 31; Inderjit Bal, 29; Varun Aul, 31; Ketan Chopra, 30; Norman Tazehkand, 32; Pawandeep Singh, 25; Dipanshu Garg, 24; Rahul Verma, 27; Karan Boparai, 26; Mankirat Boparai, 22; Simar Boparai, 21; Jovan Singh, 23; and Abhinav Bhardwaj, 25. The accused face a total of 97 criminal charges related to criminal organisation, extortion, fraud, firearms, and more, police said. "Three individuals were charged and released to attend court at a later date, while 15 were held for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton. Of the 18, almost half were on a form of judicial release at the time of arrest," it said. In July 2024, Project Outsource was launched to investigate a criminal organisation believed to be behind a significant number of extortion incidents and related acts of violence. As the investigation progressed, it became clear that the criminal network operated with two distinct but interconnected components: one dedicated to extortion and violence, and the other rooted in the towing industry, the release said. Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said, "Nearly half of those arrested were already on some form of judicial release at the time - once again raising serious concerns about repeat offenders and the urgent need for bail reform." Several suspects were found to be associated with towing companies operating under the names Certified Roadside and Humble Roadside. Investigators uncovered evidence that these individuals were engaged in insurance fraud by staging vehicle collisions and using threats, assaults, and firearms to exert control over local towing operations. "The success of Project Outsource sends a clear message: criminal organisations that use violence, fear, and fraud to prey on our communities will be identified, investigated, and dismantled," Michael S Kerzner, Solicitor General of Ontario, said. Project Outsource was a Joint Forces Operation with Peel Regional Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Halton Regional Police, York Regional Police, and Toronto Police Service. "In recent years, Peel Region has experienced a sharp rise in violent extortion attempts targeting South Asian business owners, including demands for large sums of money, threats for non-payment, and acts of violence, including drive-by shootings. In response to these incidents, Peel Regional Police established the Extortion Investigation Task Force in December 2023," the release said. York Regional Police Superintendent Sony Dosanjh said joint force operations, such as Project Outsource, are a reminder that collaborative efforts among agencies are crucial and effective in dismantling criminal organisations and restoring community safety and trust.
Scroll.in
13 hours ago
- Scroll.in
Canada: Indian-origin persons among 18 charged for extortion, acts of violence
Eighteen persons, several among them of Indian origin, have been arrested and charged in Canada's Peel region for extortion and acts of violence in connection with an organised criminal network linked to the towing industry. The Peel Regional Police said on Monday that they had recovered more than $4.2 million in assets after dismantling the network as part of a joint operation with local and provincial law enforcement agencies. The police said that the operation, titled Project Outsource, was launched in 2024 to look into the network believed to be behind a significant number of extortion cases and related acts of violence. 'As the investigation progressed, it became clear that the criminal network operated with two distinct, but interconnected components: one dedicated to extortion and violence, and the other rooted in the towing industry,' the statement said. Several suspects were found to be linked to towing companies operating under the names Certified Roadside and Humble Roadside, the statement said. Evidence was uncovered that these persons were engaged in insurance fraud by staging vehicle collisions, and using threats, assaults, and firearms to exert control over local towing operations, it added. The police said that 17 men from Brampton and a 37-year-old woman, identified as Haleh Javady Torabi from King City, have been arrested and charged in connection with the investigation as of June 10. The men were Inderjit Dhami, Paritosh Chopra, Gurbinder Singh, Kulwinder Puri, Parminder Puri, Inderjit Bal, Varun Aul, Ketan Chopra, Norman Tazehkand, Pawandeep Singh, Dipanshu Garg, Rahul Verma, Karan Boparai, Mankirat Boparai, Simar Boparai, Jovan Singh and Abhinav Bhardwaj. The police statement said that the persons arrested in the matter faced 97 criminal charges related to criminal organisation, extortion, fraud, firearms, among others. 'Three individuals were charged and released to attend court at a later date, while 15 were held for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton,' the authorities said. 'Of the 18, almost half were on a form of judicial release at the time of arrest.' Several weapons, including firearms and ammunition, were seized over the course of the investigation, the statement added 'This investigation has delivered a significant blow to a well-organised criminal network that has been spreading fear and violence in our communities,' Nishan Duraiappah, Peel Regional Police chief, said. 'These individuals and their actions have no place here, and they will be held fully accountable.'
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
18 arrested in connection with criminal network linked to towing industry: Peel police
Peel police say officers have arrested 18 people and seized more than $4.2 million in assets following the dismantling of a Brampton-based organized criminal network linked to the towing industry. Investigators released details Monday of an ongoing investigation into a criminal organization believed to be behind a significant number of extortion incidents and related acts of violence in the region. Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said the 11-month investigation began in response to a rise in violent extortion threats, particularly targeting the South Asian community and business owners. "A large number of the extortions we have been investigating over these years can be attributed to this criminal organization and those associated with it," said Duraiappah at a news conference Monday. Seventeen men from Brampton and one woman from King City now face a total of 97 charges, including extortion, participating in and instructing a criminal organization, and conducting staged collision offences. Police said almost half of those charged were on a form of judicial release at the time of their arrest. Several of those accused were found to be associated with towing companies operating under the names Certified Roadside and Humble Roadside, police said. Investigators said the group attempted to extort "hundreds of thousands of dollars" from people by engaging in insurance fraud by staging vehicle collisions and using threats, assaults, and firearms to exert control over local towing operations. Peel Regional Police Det. Brian Lorette said he couldn't provide details about the staged incidents, but he did say they were "fraudulent in every aspect." "These are collisions that are often happening on our roadways, which obviously have a public safety impact, sometimes including police, ambulance, and fire attending the scene and they continue with fraud all the way through the reporting and the insurance industry to reap the material benefits of the fraud," said Lorette at the news conference Monday. Police said an estimated $4.2 million worth of assets was seized as part of the probe, including 18 tow trucks, four high-end personal vehicles, and five stolen vehicles. Police also seized six firearms, 586 rounds of ammunition, two bulletproof vests, and various weapons. The seizures occurred during the execution of a series of search warrants in Peel Region, Caledon, York Region, and Toronto.
Global News
a day ago
- Global News
‘Dozens of staged accidents': Crime group linked to tow truck industry, extortions charged
Peel Regional Police say key members of a Brampton-based criminal organization allegedly responsible several extortion incidents and staged car accidents are facing charges. In a press conference on Monday, police revealed details of an investigation called Project Outsource which was launched in July 2024 after officers saw a sharp trend in violent extortion attempts and other criminal activity in the region. Police allege Project Outsource found that the criminal network, which is allegedly tied to the tow truck industry, was operating with 'two distinct but interconnected components: one dedicated to extortion and violence, and the other rooted in the towing industry.' The force said several suspects were found to be associated with towing companies operating under the names 'Certified Roadside' and 'Humble Roadside.' 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 'We have substantial evidence linking the group to dozens of staged accidents and potentially costing insurance companies between 80 and $100,000 for each staged accident,' said Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich with Peel Regional Police. Story continues below advertisement 'In total, those fraudulent claims exceed $1 million for this particular investigation,' Milinovich continued. 'To put that in perspective, fraudulent claims to the industry of insurance represent an equal amount to stolen cars, a cost which is then passed on to our community.' On June 10, police said a woman from King City along with 17 men from Brampton were arrested following several coordinated search warrants in Peel and York regions, as well as in Toronto, involving more than 200 officers. All 18 people face almost 100 charges including conspiracy, extortion, fraud, firearm-related offences, participating and instructing in a criminal organization and staging collision offences. Police noted that almost half of the accused were on some form of a judicial release at the time of their arrest. Several of them were known to police. Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said the two people who are believed to be responsible for leading the criminal organization are part of the arrests. Over the course of Project Outsource, police said 18 tow trucks were seized with a total value of $2.8 million, five stolen vehicles were recovered worth more than $500,000, four personal high-end vehicles worth $840,000, six firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, as well as other various weapons such as crossbows, stun guns and baseball bats. Project Outsource was created as a focused sub-investigation under the Extortion Investigative Task Force — created in 2023 in response to recent, sharp rise in violent extortion attempts targeting South Asian business owners, including demands for large sums of money, threats for non-payment, and acts of violence, including drive-by shootings.
