Testimony presented during an Immigration and Refugee Board hearing revealed that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang allegedly sent a letter to police in Abbotsford, British Columbia, in August 2025 claiming it had more than 1,000 members in Canada prepared to carry out extortion-related violence.Edmonton Police Service Const.Kevin St.

Louis testified that the letter described a structured criminal organization involved in shootings, threats, and extortion demands targeting wealthy South Asian business owners across several provinces.The hearing focused on Jashandeep Singh, an Indian national whom Canadian authorities are attempting to deport on grounds of organized criminality.

According to investigators, the extortion network has been active in Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia, using WhatsApp calls and messages to threaten victims and demand payments.

Police believe the organization originally operated under the direction of imprisoned Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, although investigators now suspect internal divisions have created multiple competing groups.St.Louis identified Lawrence Bishnoi, Goldy Brar, and an individual known as Jora Sidhu as key figures connected to the network.

He also stated that many of the suspected lower-level participants are temporary foreign workers or international students who arrived in Canada recently.Investigators allege these individuals have participated in shootings, insurance fraud, and vehicle-related crimes.Evidence presented during the hearing linked firearms used in crimes across multiple provinces.Police also connected associates of Jashandeep Singh to videos showing weapons being fired in Edmonton.However, St.

Louis acknowledged there is currently no direct evidence connecting Singh to specific extortion incidents, and no criminal charges have been laid against him.

Abbotsford police confirmed receiving the alleged gang letter and said its contents were shared with law enforcement agencies across Canada as part of ongoing investigations into organized extortion networks.