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Indian-origin man tied to extortion network arrested in Edmonton
Police said the suspect faces conspiracy to commit murder and extortion charges in Ontario.
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Malvika Choudhary - Fri, 03, Jul 2026
- 16:30 EDT
- 50
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Representative image / Unsplash
An Indian-origin man accused of links to an international extortion network was arrested in Edmonton and transferred to Ontario to face conspiracy to commit murder and extortion charges.
Safaldeep Singh was arrested by the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) following an investigation that police said uncovered links to the "For Brothers" gang, an organized criminal network connected to shootings and extortion targeting South Asian business owners and community members in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, and the United States.
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The investigation began on May 4, when EPS patrol officers stopped a Dodge Charger after reports of dangerous driving. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of controlled substances and a loaded firearm.
Singh, along with Sandeep Singh, 28, and Divianshu Divianshu, 22, was arrested and charged with multiple drug trafficking and firearms-related offenses.
Police executed search warrants at Safaldeep Singh's residence on May 28 and June 23, recovering evidence they said was consistent with vehicle re-vinning operations linked to extortion-related crimes. On June 23, Singh was arrested and charged with trafficking in property obtained by crime, possession of stolen property, and unauthorized possession of a firearm.
He was also arrested on Canada-wide warrants issued in Ontario for conspiracy to commit murder and extortion. After being processed on the Edmonton charges, Singh was transferred to Ontario to face those charges.
"We've been investigating extortion networks and their multi-jurisdictional linkages in Canada for some time now, and we have established a coordinated approach with a focus on effective intelligence collection, sharing, and enforcement action across provinces," Staff Sgt. Eric Stewart of the EPS Investigations Branch said.
"In this investigation, we're especially grateful to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Peel Regional Police for their close collaboration, which led to Singh's arrest and the connection to violent occurrences on the other side of the country," Stewart added.
Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich of Peel Regional Police said extortion and targeted violence have had "a profound impact on victims, families, and businesses, particularly within the South Asian community."
"Bringing those responsible to justice requires seamless collaboration across jurisdictions, and this investigation is a testament to what can be achieved when police services and our law enforcement partners work together toward a common goal," Milinovich said.
Janalee Bell-Boychuk, regional director general of the CBSA Prairie Region, said the agency works closely with law enforcement partners to combat extortion-related crimes.
"Individuals who harm our communities and exploit our immigration laws are being held accountable for their actions," Bell-Boychuk said.
Police said the investigation forms part of Project Insight, the Edmonton Police Service's latest initiative to investigate extortion cases affecting the South Asian community.
The framework emphasizes real-time intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement across jurisdictions to address increasingly complex extortion investigations.
The EPS urged anyone receiving extortion threats, often made through messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, not to respond, to preserve evidence by saving screenshots of messages or calls, and to contact police immediately.
Authorities also asked anyone with information related to the accused or extortion crimes affecting the South Asian community to come forward.
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