Violent extortion ring dismantled in peel region

Police allege this was a major crime group with international ties that began targeting South Asian business owners here in Peel region more than 18 months ago, and the extortion attempts usually began with threats and then escalated to violence and intimidation in the form of shootings and arson.Security video captures a barrage of bullets being fired into a Brampton home back in April.Just one of at least two dozen extortion cases allegedly linked to the international crime ring.

Victims were threatened.Businesses were shot.There have been arsons.Families intimidated.And this was organized violence, they're not one -off activities.

And according to police, more than 300 bullets fired in Mississauga and Brampton are allegedly connected to extortion violence, representing about half of all recent shootings in the region.

Each bullet represents a life that could have been lost and a tremendous amount of fear and concern created in our community.

Peel Police say 17 people have now been arrested, including five members of a gang known as the Four Brothers, who are accused of carrying out 16 acts of violence.The investigation, which was launched back in December of 2025, also involved the OPP, the FBI, Surrey Police and the Canadian Border Services.

As a result of this collaboration, six individuals charged by Peel Regional Police may face immigration action, including removal from Canada after their criminal cases have concluded.Coming to Canada on a work or student permit is a privilege and individuals who are found to be involved in these activities will be removed from the country.

In recent years, there's been a wave of threats targeting South Asian business owners here in Peel region.According to family, Harjit Datta was a victim of extortion andthe months leading up to his murder.

So far, there has not been any updates with the Peel Police, only the three arrests that were made last year.

The beloved husband, father and owner of G &G Trucking was gunned down in the parking lot of his Mississauga business last spring.And while his case is not connected to the latest arrests and the motive behind his murder has not been released, his daughter spoke to Omni News about the crisis facing The problem will only end when stronger actions are taken against the organized group and individuals who are operating these networks from behind the scenes are arrested.

Surface level arrests are not going to cut it, as we can see, because they've been making surface level arrests for the past year and it's still going on.

And police say several more cases are still under investigation, and they're asking all business owners, anyone who receives a threat, to document it and report it right away.On Ray Lawson Boulevard, Shawna Hunt, City News, Brampton.