Over 150 charges laid in extortions of South Asian businesses in Mississauga and Brampton

Brampton | Caledon | Mississauga | Ontario | Crime | Latest News | Police |

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Published December 11, 2024 at 3:29 pm

VIDEO: Over 150 charges laid in dozens of South Asian extortions in Mississauga and Brampton
Investigators say six stolen vehicles, over $10,000 in cash and 11 kilos of methamphetamines have been recovered by the Peel Regional Police Extortion Investigative Task Force. (Photo: PRP)

Multiple guns have been seized and more than 20 people have been charged after dozens of South Asian residents and businesses were targeted in Mississauga and Brampton.

The sometimes violent shakedowns have been an ongoing issue for residents and police since at least December of 2023, leading Peel Regional Police to form a task force earlier this year to dismantle what investigators have called a “complex ecosystem” of extortionists.

Investigators say the scheme sees scammers contact victims through phone or text while making threats for protection money. In some cases the demands have escalated to violence, like a shooting at a Brampton business last year.

Police now say there have been over 60 extortion-related incidents leading to 21 arrests and a combined 154 charges.

Several arrests were made earlier in the year and Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said in a video update that over 20 firearms have been seized so far along with ammunition and multiple high-capacity magazines.

Six stolen vehicles, over $10,000 in cash and 11 kilos of methamphetamines have also been recovered during the task force’s investigations, the chief said.

Dozens of similar cases have been reported across three provinces with South Asian businesses and community members being targeted, and the RCMP says the attacks and threats could be tied to organized crime groups.

While police say the threats can be intimidating, investigators are urging any potential victims not to agree to the extortionist’s terms and contact local police immediately.

Five more arrests have been made relating to extortion incidents that police say happened this spring and summer, including an incident in June where threats were made against a business owner and his family.

Peel police say Bandhumaan Sekhon, 27, Harmanjit Singh, 25, Tejinder Tatla, 44, Rukhsar Achakzai, 21, all of Brampton, and Dinesh Kumar, 24, of Hamilton, have all been arrested and charged in relation to the task force’s investigation.

All of the accused have since been released with court-imposed conditions, police said.

Duraiappah said he expects there to be more charges and arrests made in the investigations.

Anyone with information or who is a victim of an extortion related offence is asked to contact the Extortion Investigative Task Force by calling 1-866-966-0616 or email [email protected].

You can also contact Peel Crime Stoppers anonymously by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or by visiting www.peelcrimestoppers.ca.

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