UMVA has learned that a brazen extortion ring, allegedly operated by international criminals, has been dismantled by Peel Regional Police, leaving 17 accused and 106 charges in its wake.
The sinister plot, which targeted the South Asian community in Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon, involved threats of violence and actual attacks on homes and businesses, with the goal of extorting cash from innocent victims. The accused, all originally from India, allegedly fired over 324 gunshots into properties, creating a climate of fear and terror.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the extortionists, who were not Canadian citizens, would demand payments from their victims, threatening to "shoot up" or "burn down" their properties if they didn't comply. The alleged ringleaders, who included Iqbal Singh Bhagria, 25, and Akashdeep Singh, 24, were part of a coordinated effort to exploit and intimidate successful business people.
The investigation, which involved a multi-agency task force of 30 officers, uncovered a complex web of crimes, including extortion, arson, firearms offences, and conspiracy. The accused, who ranged from visitors to temporary workers, were said to have been operating with links to California.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duralappah vowed to continue combating organized crime, stating that "extortion is not confined to one region but connected both nationally and internationally." The police effort was bolstered by partnerships with the OPP, FBI, Canada Border Services Agency, and FINTRAC.
The alleged crimes had a profound impact on the community, with some families reportedly considering leaving Canada due to the fear and intimidation. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown condemned the "complete failure of border security" and called for the immediate deportation of the accused.
The Peel Police Board Chair, Nando Iannicca, revealed that victims had shared harrowing stories of living in fear, with children forced to "duck bullets" as gunfire erupted into their homes. The police actions have brought some relief, but concerns remain about the scope of organized crime and the vulnerabilities of border security.
The next steps will involve the accused facing justice, with deportation hearings likely for those who are not Canadian citizens. As Peel Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich poignantly noted, "each bullet represents a life that could have been lost."
