Authorities from the United States, Canada, and Europe have arrested 24 individuals and filed multiple charges related to extortion, racketeering, and drug trafficking linked to organized crime groups based in India. The recent crackdown highlights ongoing challenges posed by these transnational gangs, which continue to target small and medium-sized businesses across Canada.

Among the allegations is the 2023 assassination of Canadian Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. U.S. prosecutors have charged two alleged leaders of the Bishnoi gang in connection with the killing. The Bishnoi gang, headed by imprisoned Indian criminal Lawrence Bishnoi, faces racketeering charges involving Mr. Nijjar’s murder, with Satinderjeet Singh—known as Goldy Brar—alleged to be Mr. Bishnoi’s North American lieutenant.

Despite the arrests, officials warn that these charges have yet to be tested in court, and many suspects remain at large across three continents. In addition, two defendants allegedly committed crimes while incarcerated in India, signaling the groups’ ability to operate beyond geographic and institutional boundaries. Experts note that India-based criminal networks, including the Bishnoi and Bhagwanpuria gangs, are deeply entrenched in Canada and other Western countries, limiting the impact of any single law enforcement action.

These decentralized organizations reportedly operate alongside numerous copycat groups, complicating efforts to assess their full scope. The Bishnoi gang, for example, sent a letter last year to a British Columbia police station claiming to have 1,000 gunmen ready for deployment, although the veracity of this claim is uncertain. Beyond political violence, the gang is linked to a range of crimes motivated by financial gain, including extortion targeting prominent figures like Bollywood actor Salman Khan and the late rapper Sidhu Moose Wala, as well as numerous Canadian business owners.

In response to rising violent incidents and extortion schemes, the Canadian government designated the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization last year. However, rival groups such as the Bhagwanpuria gang, led by imprisoned figure Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, alongside the Bambiha Gang and the For Brothers gang, continue to engage in criminal activities within Canada. The persistence of these groups has prompted calls from municipal leaders, including the mayors of Brampton, Ontario, and Surrey, British Columbia, urging the federal government to declare a national emergency.

Data from the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FinTRAC) indicates the severity of the extortion problem. So far in 2026, FinTRAC has provided law enforcement with 194 actionable financial intelligence disclosures relating to extortion, involving substantial sums often ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Victims are typically small and medium-sized enterprises operating in sectors such as retail, transportation, construction, real estate, and hospitality.

Experts also point to vulnerabilities within Canada’s border and immigration systems. Reports suggest some gang members have exploited refugee status or temporary resident programs to evade deportation and expand their operations, raising concerns about recruitment among international students and newcomers.

Advocates urge the federal government to engage directly with business owners to develop effective strategies, including enhanced whistleblower protections and comprehensive security assistance programs. Research from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business notes that many entrepreneurs remain concerned about their personal safety and that current support measures do not fully address the scope of the issue.

This ongoing extortion epidemic echoes previous challenges with diaspora-linked organized crime in Canada, such as the Tamil Tiger extortion schemes targeting Sri Lankan business owners in the early 2000s. Authorities emphasize that addressing these transnational criminal networks requires a coordinated national security approach to curb their influence and protect Canadian communities.