Canadian police have announced the arrest of 17 suspects, the majority young men of Punjabi origin, linked to a violent criminal network involved in extortion, shootings and arsons targeting South Asian business owners in the Greater Toronto Area.The Peel Regional police, in a release, said the group, known as “For Brothers”, carried out multiple violent incidents against restaurants, trucking companies, and other businesses in Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon and parts of British Columbia, with links to California in the United States.The organised criminal network is alleged to have used intimidation, threats, and escalating violence to extort local businesses.The investigation began in December 2025 as a joint forces operation involving Peel Regional police, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the FBI and FINTRAC.The 17 accused are connected to 24 incidents, of which 16 were violent incidents linked to the “For Brothers” group, including arson and multiple shootings that involved 324 rounds discharged.In one incident, two of the accused were allegedly responsible for a shooting and arson at a residential address in Caledon, followed minutes later by a second shooting targeting a business in Brampton.A total of 106 criminal charges were laid against the 17 men. During the investigation, police seized six firearms, illicit drugs, multiple cell phones, SIM cards and fraudulent identification documents.Six of the accused may face immigration action, including possible removal from Canada after their criminal cases. Separately, CBSA arrested and detained six individuals for immigration-related inadmissibility, with three already removed, two remaining in custody, and one released on conditions.The accused arrested in April 2026 are: Iqbal Singh Bhagria, 25, of Brampton; Akashdeep Singh, 24, of Norval; Ravinder Singh, 25, of Surrey, BC; Jashanbir Singh, 21, of Surrey, BC; Dilawarpreet Singh, 26, of Brampton; Mandeep Singh, 21, of Brampton; Prabhdeep Sohal, 22, of Brampton; Partapbir Ghuman, 22, of Brampton; Ajaydeep Singh, 29, of Brampton; Navroop Singh, 24, of Brampton; Rajan Singh, 28, of Barrie; Amritjot Singh, 22, of Brampton; Jashanpreet Singh, 22, of Brampton; Guneet Guneet, 27, of Brampton; Sukhwinder Singh, 32, of Brampton; Mohinder Singh, 30, of Brampton; and Gautam Gautam, 22, of Manteca, California.Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah stated, “These arrests reflect the coordinated efforts of Peel Regional Police and our law enforcement partners across jurisdictions to disrupt these networks and hold those responsible accountable. Extortion is not confined to one region but is connected both nationally and internationally. We recognize the fear and harm this has caused, particularly within the South Asian community, and remain committed to putting a stop to these crimes and keeping our communities safe.”The Extortion Task Force, which includes approximately 30 officers and analysts, has been actively addressing violent extortion incidents since 2023. The investigation remains ongoing with further arrests anticipated.