Extortions Targeting South Asian Community Orchestrated in India: Edmonton Police

The remnants of a newly built home that was burnt down and is under investigation of arson in Edmonton Jan. 5, 2024. City police are investigating a series of extortion schemes with the common thread of targeting business owners in the South Asian community. The Canadian Press /Jason Franson

A string of extortions targeting “affluent” members of Edmonton’s South Asian community since last fall are being orchestrated by a criminal network in India, city police have said.

The Edmonton Police Service said 27 events, made up of five extortions, 15 arsons, and seven firearms offences, are connected to “an ongoing extortion series”  planned in India and executed by people on the ground within the city.

Five young men and one youth have been arrested and charged in connection with the extortions. Although one of the suspects remains in custody, another has since fled the country, Edmonton Police Service (EPS) Staff Sgt. Dave Paton told reporters during a Jan. 18 press conference.

The extortion victims receive a WhatsApp communication demanding compensation in return for safety, police said, adding that homebuilders have been the primary targets because they are seen as affluent and able to pay.

“The amounts that are being asked are significant,” Staff Sgt. Paton said although he declined to give a dollar figure. While he also declined to say how many people or companies have been victimized thus far, he said most of the people being targeted are of Indian ancestry.

“It’s concerning—there’s absolutely a level of brazenness about it,” he added.

EPS Deputy Chief Devin Laforce called the crimes part of a “new trend that is impacting us and other parts of Canada,” calling the series of incidents in his city “disturbing.”

He encouraged extortion victims, even those who have already paid, to come forward to report threats or violence, stressing that the police need “help from the community on this.”

“Rest assured we will not tolerate our citizens, any of our communities, or our city [being] terrorized and extorted by these criminals,” Deputy Chief Laforce added.

Edmonton police are collaborating with several police agencies and the RCMP, which is in contact with Indian law enforcement. Staff Sgt. Paton said investigators don’t believe there is a direct connection to similar extortion incidents in B.C. and Ontario.

EPS has also met with the Canadian Home Builders Association and is planning a town hall meeting with the South Asian community.

$9 Million in Damages

Thus far, arsons related to the extortion series have caused an estimated $9 million in property damages and led to a firefighter being injured.

There have also been multiple shooting events and firearms offences in the city and in nearby communities.

Jan. 10 security footage shows a dark, late-model four-door sedan pulling up near a Cy Becker residence in northeast Edmonton around 1:10 a.m., according to a police press release. The video showed flashes that appeared to be shots being fired into a home from the back seat of the vehicle. The home belongs to a family with children and no known criminal ties.

An arson in Beaumont on Jan. 16 is believed to be part of the extortion series as is a fire in the Orchards neighbourhood on Jan. 17.

If the most recent fire is connected, it would be the 28th incident to occur, Staff Sgt. Paton said.

Charged in relation to the ongoing extortion investigation is Parminder Singh, 20. He faces charges in connection with 12 firearms-related incidents and remains in custody.

Hassan Dembil, 18, Manav Heer, 18, Ravinder Sandu, 19, and a youth have all been charged with arson-related offences. All four suspects have since been released. Arjun Sahnan, 19 faces five firearms-related charges and has also been released.