A violent extortion network accused of terrorizing South Asian business owners across Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon has been significantly disrupted following one of the largest extortion investigations in Canadian policing history, according to Peel Regional Police.
Police announced Monday that a major international investigation involving law enforcement agencies across Canada and the Federal Bureau of Investigation resulted in 17 arrests and more than 100 criminal charges connected to a growing wave of extortion-related violence that has shaken Peel Region over the past year.
At the centre of the investigation is a gang known as “For Brothers,” a criminal organization police say has links to Surrey and Edmonton and is actively recruiting new members while targeting South Asian-owned businesses.
According to investigators, the gang emerged recently but quickly escalated its operations through intimidation, shootings, arson attacks and extortion threats.
Det. Sgt. Brian Lorette of the Peel Regional Police Extortion Task Force said investigators believe approximately 20 members are associated directly with For Brothers, along with numerous additional associates connected to other criminal activities including property crime.
Police formally identified the organization as a gang in 2025 and connected it to extortion operations in Peel earlier this year.
Authorities say the group typically targeted restaurants, trucking companies and South Asian business owners, demanding large sums of money while invoking the name of the notorious Bishnoi gang to frighten victims into compliance.
Although police have not established direct operational links between the gang and organized crime figures in India, investigators confirmed that the group repeatedly used the Bishnoi name as part of its intimidation tactics.
Victims who refused or delayed payment were allegedly subjected to escalating violence, including targeted shootings and arson attacks.
During Monday’s press conference, investigators released surveillance footage showing masked suspects arriving at homes and businesses during early morning hours before opening fire and fleeing the scene.
Police say at least 37 extortion-related shootings have occurred across Peel Region since last fall, creating widespread fear within affected communities.
Investigators linked the accused to 24 separate incidents, including 16 specifically tied to the For Brothers gang. In total, police say 324 rounds of ammunition were fired during the attacks.
Six firearms were seized during the investigation.
Among those charged are Navroop Singh, 24, and Parapbir Ghuman, 22, both from Brampton and both facing multiple extortion and shooting-related charges.
Three additional individuals face charges involving drug possession, obstruction of justice and breaches of court orders, while another 12 men face extortion-related charges not directly connected to For Brothers or other known gangs.
Police also revealed that one accused individual is connected to an attempted homicide investigation in India, while another suspect from Manteca was arrested with assistance from the FBI and faces charges involving possession of a stolen firearm.
Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich described the operation as one of the most successful extortion investigations ever conducted in Canada.
The investigation also involved the Canada Border Services Agency, which arrested six individuals during the operation. Police confirmed that none of the five accused allegedly connected directly to For Brothers are Canadian citizens, and six individuals could potentially face deportation proceedings following the conclusion of their criminal cases.
Authorities emphasized that beyond financial losses, the emotional and psychological damage inflicted on business owners and employees has been devastating.
Police say some victims were targeted multiple times, forcing many businesses and families to live under constant fear and anxiety.
Milinovich noted that the gang’s strategy relied heavily on creating fear throughout the South Asian business community, warning that intimidation itself was central to the gang’s ability to operate successfully.
The Peel Regional Police Extortion Task Force, established in 2023 in response to rising violence, has now laid more than 500 charges connected to extortion investigations across the region.
Investigators say the probe remains active and additional arrests and charges could still follow as police continue working to dismantle organized criminal networks operating within Peel Region and beyond.