THE Edmonton Police Service believes it has found everyone behind a series of extortion crimes being investigated as part of Gaslight Projectbut getting the alleged ringleader on Canadian soil to appear before justice remains an obstacle to overcome.
From shootings to the burning of new or under-construction homes, police have investigated dozens of incidents in the Edmonton area since October 2023 that investigators say are extortions targeting the South Asian community, particularly home builders.
Maninder Singh Dhaliwal, 35, is believed to be the leader of the criminal organization responsible for the extortion spree and had been the subject of a Canada-wide arrest warrant since July 2024, when six other people were arrested.
Police previously said he was affiliated with the Brothers Keeper organized crime group, also known as the Dhaliwal crime group, from British Columbia’s Lower Mainland.
Although Dhaliwal is originally from Edmonton and has ties to the city, police said last summer that investigators believed he was orchestrating the extortions from abroad.
EPS said it was working with federal and international counterparts, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, to find Dhaliwal.
Police alleged that the criminal network led by Dhaliwal recruited young adults “who could be enticed to commit crimes for financial incentives.”
Maninder Dhaliwal, 35, is believed to be the leader of a criminal organization responsible for a series of arson extortions in the Edmonton area, according to police.
Courtesy / EPS
In late 2024, Dhaliwal was arrested in the United Arab Emirates on separate criminal charges.
The EPS has requested the extradition to Alberta of Dhaliwal, suspected of being the leader of the criminal organization responsible for the series of extortions.
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There is no extradition treaty between Canada and the United Arab Emirates for the transfer of offenders to a Canadian prison. according to the federal government.
Under UAE law, an extradition request can be granted if the crime in question is punishable by at least one year of imprisonment. but this is done at the discretion of the country.
“This investigation represented a massive effort by EPS investigators, with complexities never before seen in international coordination, and we are very pleased to see it conclude with the request for Dhaliwal’s extradition,” EPS organized crime branch said. Insp. Duane Hunter.
“This result shows criminals that international borders will not protect them and that we will not tolerate this type of violence in our community, regardless of its origin. »
It is not yet known whether the extradition request will be granted, but the criminal case is currently being tried.
The Gaslight project will be judged
The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service filed an indictment Tuesday, EPS said, and criminal charges stemming from the Gaslight project will be tried in the Alberta Court of King’s Bench. The dates are not yet known.
As part of the extortion scheme, members of the South Asian business community were threatened for money in exchange for “protection” and officials said non-payment led to arson and drive-by shootings.
No injuries were reported, but the arsons and shootings caused millions of dollars in damage in Edmonton and Beaumont and left many people in suspense.
On July 25, 2024, police arrested six people – a 20-year-old woman named Jashandeep Kaur and five men: Gurkaran Singh, 20, Manav Heer, 19, Parminder Singh, 21, Divnoor Asht, 19 and a man who was 17 at the time of the offenses. At the time of their arrest, one of them was a permanent resident, two were Indian nationals and the others were Canadian citizens.
Along with Dhaliwal, they face a total of 54 charges.
Police said the charges include extortion, arson, intentional discharge of a firearm, breaking and entering and assault with a weapon, as well as a number of charges related to commission of an offense for the benefit of, under the direction of or in association with a criminal organization.
Edmonton police said officers have investigated a total of 40 crimes related to the extortion spree and no new incidents have been reported since the last arson attack on July 26, 2024.
It was a massive investigation throughout Edmonton, as well as south of the city in Beaumont.
Police say the investigation into Project Gaslight is officially over.
Arson extortion mirrors criminal tactics used in India
Cases of such crimes were or are still being investigated in Ontario and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.
Investigators in another province have previously said tactics used in Canada were commonly employed by organized crime groups in the Indian state of Punjab.
Police in Surrey and Abbotsford issued public warnings in November 2023 after business owners in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland began receiving threatening letters.
Global News obtained a copy of one of the letters, which claimed to be from an “Indian gang” and demanded $2 million in “protection money” or the recipient would face retaliation. Abbotsford police say they are investigating a leaked ‘law enforcement only’ bulletin that said investigators were looking into ‘extortion in progress’ believed to be linked to two home shootings victims and arson.
It said the suspects are believed to be linked to an India-based gang led by a man named Lawrence Bishnoi, and that the scheme targets “affluent members of the South Asian community.”
The bulletin said the Hindi-speaking suspects used messaging service WhatsApp to contact victims and threaten them with violence after “demanding large amounts of foreign currency”.
In some cases, police said suspects appear to have detailed knowledge of the victim’s personal information, such as family members, vehicles and lifestyle.
If victims do not pay, their properties will be burned down – or worse. Last year, Edmonton police said the suspects were known to have demanded higher amounts of money, “leading to escalating violence and drive-by shootings.”
— with files from Darryl Greer, The Canadian Press
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