Indian Criminal Networks Emerging as Global Threat, Including in Canada

Indian criminal networks are increasingly viewed as a serious threat to lives and property globally, including in Canada. Critics argue that the expansion of these criminal elements, human smugglers, and extremist networks abroad appears to be becoming a systematic issue.

No country—including Canada, Australia, or the United States—has been immune to the activities of these organized crime groups. A recent report by the Australian publication The Spectator Australia highlights the activities of Indian criminal gangs operating internationally.

According to the report, these gangs are creating an atmosphere of fear, extortion, and terror. In the Canadian city of Surrey alone, 35 extortion incidents linked to these gangs have been reported since January. Furthermore, over 1,500 blackmail cases involving such groups have been recorded in Ontario over the past three years.

The Spectator Australia specifically identifies the notorious Bishnoi group as a key player in extortion and organized crime within Canada. Sikh organizations have alleged that the group targets pro-Khalistan activists at the behest of the Indian government. Additionally, Canadian journalists have noted that reports from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have repeatedly suggested a link between the Indian government and the Bishnoi group for strategic purposes.