Canada: Five Indian-origin men have been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged extortion campaign targeting an auto dealership in British Columbia, according to Canadian police.
The arrests followed a 16-month investigation launched after the co-owners of an auto dealership reported receiving extortion demands in June 2025. The business was subsequently targeted in two incidents involving shootings and arson at locations in Langley and Surrey, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said.
Police identified the accused as 23-year-old Sanket Singla, Sahil, 24, Simranjeet Singh, 24, Harsh, 21, and Jagdeep Singh, 24. The RCMP described all five as foreign nationals.
Singla, who is from India, was arrested on Thursday at Toronto Pearson International Airport after investigators facilitated his entry into Canada, police said. Sahil, Simranjeet Singh and Harsh are residents of British Columbia, while Jagdeep Singh lives in Ontario. All five remain in custody.
The British Columbia Prosecution Service has charged all five with extortion. Some of the accused also face additional charges relating to firearms, arson, explosives and drug trafficking.
Investigators allege that Singla and Simranjeet Singh were involved in incidents in which a vehicle was damaged by fire or explosion and Molotov cocktails were thrown into the auto dealership. Sahil also faces allegations involving cocaine trafficking and the transfer of prohibited firearms.
The investigation resulted in the seizure of four firearms, ammunition and magazines, along with suspected fentanyl, cocaine and opium, the RCMP said.
Police said evidence collected during the investigation could be connected to other extortion and violence cases in British Columbia and Alberta. Further charges may be filed as the investigation continues.
The arrests form part of wider investigations by British Columbia's provincial extortion task force, which has been examining cases involving threats and violence against business owners and members of the South Asian community.
Authorities have also previously investigated alleged links between extortion cases in Canada and India-based organised crime networks. The RCMP said in July 2026 that an operation targeting the Lawrence Bishnoi organisation and other India-based transnational crime groups resulted in 34 people being charged in connection with extortion, drug trafficking and violence.
British Columbia extortion task force chief superintendent Duncan Pound said it would emerge during court proceedings whether the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was connected to the latest cases. He also noted that alleged perpetrators in some investigations had claimed links to prominent gangs as a means of intimidation.
The allegations against the five accused have not been proven in court.
