LANGLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA: Five foreign nationals have been arrested and charged in Canada in connection with alleged extortion, shootings and arson incidents targeting an automobile dealership in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. The arrests were announced on October 1, 2026, following a 16-month investigation led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) under the name Project E-PURSUANCE.
According to reports by CBC News and Victoria News, the investigation focused on a series of alleged criminal incidents involving threats, gun violence and arson directed at an automobile dealership in the Lower Mainland, an area that includes communities such as Surrey and Langley. The case has drawn attention to the ongoing challenges Canadian law enforcement agencies face in investigating organised extortion and violent intimidation.
The five accused have been identified as Sanket Singla, 23, who was in India before his arrest; Sahil, 24; Simranjeet Singh, 24; Harsh, 21; and Jagdeep Singh, 24. Investigators arrested the four others in Surrey, while Singla was taken into custody at Toronto Pearson International Airport after coordinating an operation to facilitate his return to Canada. Police said the investigation involved cooperation with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency and RCMP international liaison officers.
According to investigators, the case began in June 2025 after the co-owners of an automobile dealership reported receiving serious extortion demands. Police allege that the threats were followed by two targeted attacks involving shootings and arson at the business’s locations in Surrey and Langley. The investigation subsequently expanded to examine suspected involvement in prohibited firearms trafficking and the trafficking of controlled substances.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of firearms and suspected illegal drugs, which police believe may include cocaine, fentanyl and opium. Investigators said they had gathered additional evidence relating to other extortion-related offences across Western Canada and were sharing the information with law enforcement agencies in other jurisdictions. Police indicated that further charges could follow as the investigation continues.
The investigation has also raised questions about alleged links to organized criminal groups. British Columbia’s extortion task force has indicated that investigators will examine whether the accused had any genuine connection to the India-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Police have cautioned that criminals sometimes claim affiliations with prominent gangs to intimidate victims and strengthen extortion demands. Any such connection remains a matter for investigation and, where relevant, court proceedings.
The arrests come amid continuing concerns about extortion-related threats and violence affecting business owners and members of British Columbia’s South Asian community. Law enforcement officials have emphasized the importance of victims reporting threats promptly and providing investigators with relevant evidence. Authorities say cooperation between victims, local police, federal agencies and international partners can help identify suspects and investigate offences that cross provincial and international borders.
The five accused face criminal charges, but the allegations have yet to be tested in court. Their arrests represent a significant development in the investigation, although police say further inquiries into related offences remain underway.
Source references:CBC News,Global News,Sher E Punjab Radio,Stratford Today,Langley