A sharp rise in extortion threats and violent attacks across Peel Region—disproportionately affecting South Asian communities—has police and local leaders warning that only a coordinated, multi-jurisdictional response can curb the problem.
Peel Regional Police Chief Nish Duraiappah says the violence is not confined to Peel but is being driven by transnational criminal networks that exploit global communication tools to threaten victims and move money across borders. “All the things that make Peel vibrant and diverse are also being exploited by criminal elements,” he said.
The urgency intensified after a Jan. 6 shooting at a Caledon trucking firm—captured on video and widely shared online—marked the latest in a series of targeted attacks. Police report extortion complaints jumped from 319 in 2023 to nearly 500 the following year, most in Brampton. Victims are often successful business owners, particularly in trucking, transport and towing, though police say some targets may also be vulnerable due to past associations.
The challenge extends beyond Ontario. Authorities note links to cases in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland, underscoring the need for cooperation among local, provincial, federal and international partners—an approach similar to recent efforts to combat auto theft rings.
In at least half of Peel investigations, victims report extortionists invoking the Lawrence Bishnoi gang or other organized crime groups to instill fear. While Peel police say they have not directly tied cases to the gang, the references amplify intimidation. The group has been linked to high-profile violence and was designated a terrorist entity in Canada last fall.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown has warned that dozens of incidents between 2024 and late 2025 explicitly referenced the gang, calling the threat “real” and transnational.
Police say tackling the extortion wave will require intelligence-sharing, tougher enforcement, victim support, and community engagement—“all hands on deck” to protect residents and businesses as investigations continue.