5 foreign nationals arrested in connection to B.C. extortions, shootings and arsons

5 foreign nationals arrested in connection to B.C. extortions, shootings and arsons

5 foreign nationals arrested in extortion investigation led by Langley RCMP

At today's news conference, Langley RCMP announced charges against five men for alleged extortion-related crimes after an auto shop, with locations in Surrey and Langley, B.C., was targeted with violence in June 2025.

Two of the men are charged with throwing Molotov cocktails into the auto shop, among other crimes.

One of the men was arrested at Toronto Pearson Airport, after police including international RCMP liaison officers and border officers "facilitated a controlled operation" to allow the man to enter Canada. Police wouldn't share more details on that operation.

The charges come as police and authorities ramp up efforts to crack down on extortionists who have been threatening South Asian communities across B.C. and Canada.

Puneet Sandhar, the vice-president of the South Asian Business Association of B.C., says the latest arrests and charges offer more relief to businesses.

"It's been kind of like a roller-coaster. You feel okay, you're out of the woods — and then no, not really yet. So news like this, when we see concrete action, gives us relief for sure."

However, Sandhar says the crisis has instilled fear among business owners who have shied away from openly discussing, advertising, or sponsoring events due to their fears of extortion.

"Pushing back from wanting to celebrate, wanting to be seen, wanting to appear at events, wanting to sponsor good causes — because their name would be out there, and it would probably alert the people and lead them to contact them," she said of business owners' feelings.

She hopes the business community can feel more comfortable as more offenders are held accountable.

"We should consider this a crisis, and we really want the resources and the attention still to be on this issue, and we still want to see ongoing work," said Sandhar.

At the news conference, Dosange said the project has also resulted in the seizure of firearms and drugs — including what police suspect to be cocaine, fentanyl and opium.

"We'll have more to say [on] that at a later date and time," the superintendent said.

We went to court to get the charging document after the news conference. It speaks to the details the RCMP would not — spelling out the methods of terror the accused allegedly relied on to threaten their victims.

The document claims Singla and Simranjeet Singh intentionally or recklessly caused damage "by fire or explosion" to a Mustang vehicle in June 2025.

It also alleges the two threw Molotov cocktails into the auto shop with intent to destroy or damage property.

Singla, Sahil, Simranjeet Singh, Harsh and Jagdeep Singh are each charged with intentionally or recklessly causing damage to a Ford van by fire or explosion.

Sahil is also charged with trafficking cocaine, as well as transferring prohibited firearms, including a Kodiak Defence firearm and Glock handgun.

The RCMP news release has a few more details about the initial report that triggered their investigation.

The release said co-owners of an auto dealership reported significant extortion demands, which were followed by two targeted attacks on the business's locations in Surrey and Langley.

As in today's announcement, all the cases we’ve covered have involved multiple suspects with ties to cases in other provinces, usually Alberta and southern Ontario.

At immigration proceedings, police witnesses have spoken about the fact that the perpetrators and weapons move between provinces, making it hard to keep track of them. Police have also spoken about threats against business owners who have been targeted at their homes and businesses. The threats usually come through WhatsApp numbers, and when the victims refuse to answer, the extortionists follow up with texts.

Just this week, we reported on the chief suspect behind a shooting at Radio Swift 1200 AM, which happened in Surrey last September. He was caught with a note on his phone that matched a threat sent to the radio station’s owner demanding $5 million in the names of Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Dhillon — a Bishnoi gang subcontractor. In that case — as in the one announced by Langley RCMP today — police were unable to say for sure if the Bishnoi gang was involved, or if the suspects were just using the Bishnoi name to instill fear.

I’ve been covering extortion cases through the immigration process for the past 10 months. Today’s announcement speaks to the lack of information police are able to provide — as opposed to the details gleaned through the Immigration and Refugee Board.

Beyond the charges themselves, RCMP said very little about the wider network that they suggested was at work. But we’ve gathered extensive details about other, similar groups of young men allegedly involved in extortions in South Asian communities across Canada.

A reporter asked if the new charges were related to the Bishnoi gang that has been connected to extortions in the Lower Mainland.

"If there's evidence on the file, that would be something that would then go before the courts. So we wouldn't speak to that," Pound said.

He added that perpetrators will sometimes claim they are connected to high-profile gangs to seem more intimidating to victims.

Police say four people in the group were arrested in Surrey.

Police say the fifth person, Singla, was in India. After a "controlled operation" by investigators that allowed him to enter Canada, he was arrested at Toronto Pearson Airport.

"Investigators facilitated a controlled operation that allowed Mr. Singla to enter Canada for the purpose of effecting his arrest," RCMP said in a news release.

Investigators say they found it was in the public interest to have him appear before Canadian courts.