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Canada Police arrest six in extortion case targeting Indo-Canadian businesses
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Photo of Maninder Singh Dhaliwal, wanted on a Canadawide arrest warrant in connection with a series of alleged extortion events in Edmonton. / Image- Edmonton Police Service
The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) in Canada has arrested six individuals and issued country-wide warrants for a seventh in connection with an extortion scheme known as Project Gaslight.
The scheme, which involves arsons, firearms offences and extortions dating back to last October, targets Indo-Canadian businesses and individuals in Edmonton.
According to a statement by the EPS, its officers, along with colleagues from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), searched six locations in the city, and arrested Jashandeep Kaur, 19, Gurkaran Singh, 19, Manav Heer, 19, Parminder Singh, 21, Divnoor Asht, 19, and a 17-year-old male.
Warrants have been issued for Maninder Singh Dhaliwal, 34, believed to be the leader of the group responsible for the extortions. "We believe that the individuals identified today represent the core members of this criminal network; however, we know Dhaliwal is actively recruiting other young people," said David Paton, acting director of EPS's organized crime branch.
The police statement detailed that the accused face a total of 54 charges, including extortion, arson, intentionally discharging a firearm, break and enter, and assault with a weapon. EPS is currently investigating 40 episodes of extortion in the city, with charges laid in relation to 26 of them.
"Investigators believe Dhaliwal has been orchestrating the extortions from overseas, and EPS is working with our federal and international counterparts, including the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, to locate him," Paton added during a press conference.
Police added that they are in contact with Indian authorities regarding the ongoing investigation. The latest incident related to this case occurred early on July.26, 2024, involving an arson at an apartment building in the Cavanagh neighborhood.
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