17 Indian-origin youth arrested in Canada extortion crackdown

Police in Canada have arrested 17 Indian-origin youth in connection with an extortion and violence case linked to an international criminal network called “For Brothers.” The arrests were made by the Peel Regional Police with support from agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Canada Border Services Agency.

According to police, the gang targeted South Asian business owners through threats, intimidation, shootings and arson attacks to force them to pay extortion money. The group was active in Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon and British Columbia, with links to California. Restaurants and trucking companies were repeatedly attacked after refusing extortion demands.

Police said two accused were involved in a shooting and arson at a house in Caledon, followed shortly by another shooting at a business in Brampton. Overall,investigators connected the accused to 24 incidents, including 16 violent attacks involving around 324 rounds of gunfire.

The accused include Iqbal Singh Bhagria, Akashdeep Singh, Ravinder Singh, Jashanbir Singh, Dilawarpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Prabhdeep Sohal, Partapbir Ghuman, Ajaydeep Singh, Navroop Singh, Rajan Singh, Amritjot Singh, Jashanpreet Singh, Guneet Guneet, Sukhwinder Singh, Mohinder Singh and Gautam Gautam. Together, they face 106 criminal charges.

Police began the joint investigation in December 2025 and carried out raids in April 2026. During the operation, officers seized six firearms, illegal drugs, mobile phones, SIM cards and fake identity cards. Authorities also said some accused could face deportation after their court cases end.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reacted to the arrests on X, saying authorities were working together to trace criminal networks and hold those involved accountable.

Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said the crimes had created fear within the South Asian community and stressed that international cooperation was necessary to stop such organised extortion networks.