Five arrests have been made in connection with an extortion spree that terrorized a South Asian business in Peel

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Five men have been charged in two separate extortions in which they threatened violence against South Asian business owners in the Peel region.

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And it seems to be a growing trend that has created panic in the community.

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At a press conference Wednesday morning, Peel Regional Police said 29 reports of extortion dating back to November 2023 are currently being investigated by the Extortion Task Force, a team of about two dozen detectives formed in December to address the surge in reported incidents.

Businesses targeted include restaurants and bakeries, trucking and transportation companies, used car dealers and jewelry stores, as well as the homes of business owners, police said.

Victims who communicate by phone or through private Internet-based messaging platforms such as WhatsApp are extorted for money, police said, in hopes of abusing them, their families or partners.

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Victims are asked to pay in Canadian currency or Indian rupees, in cash or by money order.

Nine of the reported incidents involved gunfire, but no injuries were reported, police added.

Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Durayappa said the public is encouraged to report extortion attempts and threats so that the culprits are punished and people feel safer.

“Anyone targeting this community is absolutely unacceptable,” he said.

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According to Durayappa, there are similar extortion trends affecting South Asian communities in Alberta and British Columbia's Lower Mainland, as well as certain locations in the United States.

He said his investigators are working with police agencies across the province and country, as well as the RCMP and authorities in India, to see if there are any links or similarities to the crimes committed.

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Since the formation of the task force, five people have been charged.

“It is our responsibility to respond to this trend and stop it,” Durayappa said.

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said it was a “huge relief” for the South Asian community to hear about the latest arrests after receiving “distressing” phone calls from business owners and horrified families.

“If you want to intimidate our residents, we have sent a clear message that it will not be tolerated,” he said. “These types of serious crimes do not go unchecked in Peel Region or Canada.”

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A search warrant was executed at a Brampton residence on Jan. 24 in connection with the extortion of a Caledon business owner, police said.

Incidents involving extortion, arson, threats and the use of firearms occurred in Brampton and Caledon in January and December.

Four people have been charged and police said they seized more than 50 mobile phones, 11 laptops, a large amount of cash and firearms along with several rounds of ammunition.

Gagan Ajit Singh, 23, of Brampton, is charged with two counts of extortion, uttering threats to kill, criminal damage to property, arson, malicious discharge of a weapon and multiple counts of fraud over $5,000.

Anmoldeep Singh, 23, of Mississauga, is charged with four firearms offenses and one count of fraud over $5,000.

Two Brampton women – 25-year-old Hashmeet Kaur and 21-year-old Eamanjot Kaur – face four firearms charges.

In another incident, police said the 32-year-old victim was called and threatened on January 26 via WhatsApp. .

Arundeep Tinde, 39, of no fixed address, was charged with extortion.

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