10 hours ago
Police arrest 18 in Greater Toronto tow truck bust
Police in the Greater Toronto Area have arrested 18 people who they say are part of an organized network tied to the towing industry that is responsible for alleged acts of extortion and violence.
Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah on Monday announced the results of their operation, Project Outsource, from a podium encircled by seized tow trucks, firearms and a crossbow in a parking lot in Brampton, Ont.
Chief Duraiappah alleged that the criminal network used violence to threaten and extort drivers, and also staged vehicle collisions to defraud insurance providers. The violence included arson, threatening online messages and drive-by shootings, he said.
Peel police launched the investigation in July, 2024.
Among those charged are Paritosh Chopra and Inderjit Dhami, whom Chief Duraiappah described as the 'leaders' of the criminal network. He said the alleged crimes targeted members of the South Asian business community through two towing companies, which he identified as Humble Roadside and Certified Roadside.
Corporate records indicate that Mr. Chopra and Mr. Dhami are listed as directors of Humble Roadside. Mr. Chopra is also listed as director of Certified Roadside.
Social-media accounts for both companies include the same telephone number. A woman who answered the phone told The Globe and Mail that she worked for Certified but said she did not know anything and hung up.
'The individuals were also involved with other criminal activities. The same people with access to the same means are doing a variety of different things, inclusive of fraud to the extent where a whole tow industry was exploiting vulnerable people,' Chief Duraiappah said.
The alleged crimes by the towing companies 'have been done in the name of international ties,' Acting Detective Sergeant Brian Lorette said, though police have yet to establish a direct link to anyone outside of Canada.
