In a dramatic development just hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in Canada for the G7 Summit, the Peel Regional Police (PRP) announced the arrest of 18 people in a takedown operation against a violent criminal gang, mostly of Indian descent.
The announcement has cast a spotlight on crime concerns within the South Asian diaspora and added a layer of complexity to PM Modi’s visit.
The arrests were made as part of ‘Operation Outsource’, a year-long effort initiated in response to a surge in extortion cases and violent attacks, particularly in the Peel Region, which includes major suburbs of Toronto.
PRP Chief Nishan Duraiappah stated that the gang’s actions had escalated into drive-by shootings, arson, and a variety of violent crimes that spread ‘fear and insecurity’ among members of the Indian-origin community.
The police revealed that 17 of the 18 arrested individuals are of Indian descent.
The group now faces a total of 97 criminal charges. Authorities seized a significant cache of illegal items, including firearms, bullets, tasers, crossbows, bulletproof vests, and stolen vehicles, valued at over $4.2 million.
The gang reportedly targeted South Asian business owners, demanding large sums of money and issuing threats in case of non-compliance.
The intimidation often escalated to acts of violence, particularly drive-by shootings—a growing trend observed in cities across Canada.
In response to this alarming rise, the PRP established an Extortion Investigation Task Force in December 2023.
Investigations uncovered that the gang operated through two interlinked components: one focusing on extortion and violence, and the other embedded in the towing industry.
They staged vehicle collisions and used threats and firearms to manipulate insurance claims and dominate local towing businesses.
The police’s admission about the gang’s involvement in drive-by shootings is significant, especially considering previous allegations made under the Trudeau administration, which at times attempted to link such violence to Indian government officials.
The new disclosures have prompted fresh scrutiny of those earlier claims and come as Prime Minister Mark Carney attempts to reset Canada-India relations.
Diaspora leaders have welcomed Prime Minister Modi’s visit, hoping for renewed diplomatic engagement and stronger economic cooperation.
However, the timing of the arrests has reignited public discourse on law enforcement, diaspora safety, and the need for bilateral cooperation on criminal investigations involving transnational elements.
Leaders and observers are hailing PM Modi’s presence in Canada as a turning point in India-Canada relations, strained under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
While PM Modi focuses on global and South-South priorities at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, the gang takedown adds a local but highly relevant dimension to his visit.
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