'Terrorizing our community': Arrests made in GTA extortion attempts
CTV
Police in Peel Region are investigating 29 separate cases of attempted extortion targeting South Asian business owners in a rash of crime Brampton’s mayor says is 'terrorizing' the community.
Police in Peel Region are investigating 29 separate cases of attempted extortion targeting South Asian business owners in a rash of crime Brampton’s mayor says is “terrorizing” the community.
Investigators announced the probes as part of their newly-minted Extortion Investigative Task Force (EITF) at a news conference on Wednesday and identified five suspects who have been arrested in connection with three alleged incidents across the Greater Toronto Area since December 2023.
Task force lead Supt. Shelley Thompson said of the 29 cases under investigation, nine incidents have involved shootings at local businesses, with multiple bullets being fired. No injuries have been reported.
Speaking alongside Peel Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said the five arrests represent a “big win” for public safety in the region.
“This was terrorizing our community. This was terrorizing the South Asian community,” he said.
Four of the suspects, identified by police as Gagan Ajit Singh, 23, Anmoldeep Singh, 23, Hashmeet Kaur, 25, and Lymanjot Kaur, 21, all of Brampton and Mississauga, are facing a laundry list of charges in connection with two recent alleged extortion incidents, police said.
According to Duraiappah, a search warrant executed at a Brampton residence on Jan. 24 linked to those suspects resulted in the seizure of a firearm, ammunition, an undisclosed amount of cash, numerous computers and approximately 50 cell phones.
