EDMONTON, Canada (Diya TV) – Edmonton police have arrested six key members of a local crime ring involved in a string of arsons aimed at extorting the city’s South Asian community. They are now seeking the suspected ringleader, believed to be orchestrating the operations from India.
Police arrested six individuals, aged 17 to 21, on Thursday after executing search warrants at six locations. This massive operation involved about 100 officers from both the Edmonton Police Service and the RCMP. The suspects face multiple charges, including extortion, arson, and firearms offenses.
Authorities have issued a Canada-wide warrant for 34-year-old Maninder Singh Dhaliwal, who they believe is the mastermind behind these crimes. Acting Insp. Dave Paton of the Edmonton police organized crime branch told reporters that Dhaliwal is allegedly running the group from overseas and is affiliated with the Brothers Keepers gang in B.C.’s Lower Mainland.
Investigators link the Edmonton crime ring to over 40 incidents since October, including shootings and arsons targeting local homebuilders. The latest incident, an early Friday morning fire in the Cavanagh neighborhood, is suspected to be connected to this crime spree.
Paton emphasized that Dhaliwal has been orchestrating the extortions from abroad, and the EPS is working with federal and international counterparts, including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, to locate him. “We believe that the individuals identified today represent the core members of this criminal network. However, there is a strong likelihood that more people will be charged as this investigation continues,” he stated.
Dhaliwal, originally from Edmonton, may have altered his appearance to evade capture. Police urge anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward. Despite Dhaliwal’s gang affiliations, investigators have no evidence suggesting the Edmonton group is conducting extortions elsewhere.
Supt. Adam MacIntosh, leading the RCMP’s national coordination and support team, noted that while there is some crossover with investigations in Ontario and B.C., the extent remains unclear. The RCMP is also in communication with the Indian government regarding this investigation.
Chief Dale McFee had a stern message for those involved with the local crime ring: “We’re going to find you. We’re going to hold you accountable. If this is what you choose to do, it’s not going to end well for you. We will not stand for you intimidating Edmontonians. Period.”
Police urge parents to discuss these issues with their young adult children, particularly within the South Asian community. They also encourage anyone with information or those who have been extorted but have not yet spoken to police to come forward.
Paton highlighted that the ringleader is actively recruiting young adults, promising easy money—a common tactic among organized crime groups. However, he warned recruits that they are merely pawns for this individual, who will abandon them once they get caught.
The crime group operates with a structured hierarchy, involving about 20 people under investigation at one point. Members conduct thorough research on their victims before attempting to extort them, often reaching out via WhatsApp messages or calls demanding large sums of money. Some victims have paid, and the arsons have caused at least $10 million in property damage.
Police have laid charges for 26 of the 48 incidents targeting local businesses, primarily homebuilders. The search warrants executed on Thursday led to the arrests of Jashandeep Kaur, 19, Gurkaran Singh, 19, Manav Heer, 19, Parminder Singh, 21, Divnoor Asht, 19, and a 17-year-old boy. These individuals face multiple charges, and several others have been charged in recent months.
