Peel Police arrest 18 in ‘Operation Outsource’ aimed at gang targeting South Asian community through extortion, arson, and shootings
Just hours ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in Canada, Peel Regional Police (PRP) announced a major breakthrough in a year-long operation that led to the arrest of 18 individuals—17 of whom are of Indian descent—linked to a violent extortion gang. The gang’s actions, which included drive-by shootings and arsons, primarily targeted members of the South Asian community in the Greater Toronto Area ,reported gujaratsamachar.com.
The arrests were part of ‘Operation Outsource’, launched in 2023 to tackle a surge in violent extortion attempts against South Asian business owners. According to PRP Chief Nishan Duraiappah, the gang’s operations had escalated significantly, spreading “fear and insecurity” within their own community.
Gang linked to extortion, arson, staged accidents, and control over towing industry dismantled in major Canadian police operation
The accused face a total of 97 charges. Authorities recovered over $4.2 million in assets including firearms, ammunition, crossbows, bulletproof vests, tasers, and stolen vehicles.
PRP stated: “In recent years, Peel Region has experienced a sharp rise in violent extortion attempts targeting South Asian business owners, including demands for large sums of money, threats for non-payment, and acts of violence including drive-by shootings.”
To combat this trend, the PRP set up the Extortion Investigation Task Force in December 2023. The gang reportedly operated via two interconnected arms—one dedicated to extortion and violence, and the other embedded in the towing industry. According to investigators, the gang carried out insurance fraud by staging vehicle collisions and used intimidation and violence to dominate local towing operations.
Notably, police confirmed the gang’s involvement in drive-by shootings—an admission with national implications, as similar incidents across Canada had previously been politicized. Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration had controversially linked some of those attacks to Indian officials, straining diplomatic ties between the two nations.
The timing of this crackdown adds political weight, with India’s Prime Minister expected to engage in high-level meetings with Canadian leadership amid ongoing security and diaspora concerns.
