THE “Special Bulletin on money laundering associated with extortion directed at Canada’s South Asian diaspora” by Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) released on Thursday states that its analysis suggests that multiple crime groups appear to be involved in ongoing extortion activities, including the Bishnoi Gang and Bambiha Gang.

“Notably, reporting submitted to FINTRAC indicates the possibility of “copycat” actors leveraging the weight associated with these crime groups to maximize their own impact,” says the special bulletin.

The extortion targeting Canada’s South Asian diaspora, along with the associated money laundering activities, appears to be primarily associated to loosely organized criminal networks blending local actors with individuals claiming affiliation to overseas organized crime groups.

According to the special bulletin:

* The Bishnoi Gang, led by Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, is one of the most prominent and violent organized‑crime groups originating in northern India. The Bishnoi Gang is a transnational criminal organization with a presence in Canada and is active in areas with significant diaspora communities. The gang’s core criminal portfolio reportedly includes a variety of fraud schemes, human trafficking, narcotics trafficking, extortion, and targeted killings, which are described as its largest revenue sources both domestically and abroad. The group operates through a vast network of enforcers and international associates, including collaborators from other Indian crime syndicates, who help coordinate contract killings and other financially motivated crimes from outside India. The Bishnoi Gang creates a climate of insecurity for Canadians in diaspora communities as it targets them, their prominent community members, their businesses, as well as cultural figures within the community. The entity is also known as Bishnoi Group, Lawrence Bishnoi Group, and the Bishnoi Crime Group and was designated by the Government of Canada as a listed terrorist entity on September 29, 2025.

* The Bambiha Gang, named after deceased leader Davinder Bambiha, functions as a rival to the Bishnoi syndicate and has grown into a sprawling network of operatives involved in extortion, contract violence, and large‑scale protection rackets. The organization operates through a multi‑layered structure of regional commanders inside India and international coordinators based abroad (including Canada and the U.S.), enabling it to sustain operations ranging from violent attacks to coordinated intimidation campaigns. The gang reportedly forges alliances with other criminal syndicates to expand its influence and revenue streams, particularly in the lucrative extortion economy.

Some of the “financial transaction indicators” listed in the special bulletin:

• The customer may use aliases, pseudonyms or “rapper” stage names. In cases associated with extortion directed at the South Asian diaspora community, the individual will typically be between 17 and 28 years old, possess an Indian passport and have identified as an international student at account creation, generally at a college rather than a university.
• The customer uses money services businesses or banks to transact with persons or companies in India, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and possibly Portugal or Kenya. Transaction volume or values are likely to be unusually high for their employment status, such as an international student. The customer may also request or receive electronic fund transfers to or from these jurisdictions, including if the sending parties or beneficiaries are in Haryana or Punjab, India.
• Victims of extortion are likely to be a local business owner. The transaction they are seeking to complete, such as a large cash withdrawal or wire transfer, will be inconsistent with past transaction behaviours. The customer may be nervous or distressed and appear to be receiving direction or coaching as they attempt to liquidate long-term investments or execute large or multiple outgoing wires to new counterparties.

The special bulletin states: “Extortion targeting South Asian communities in Canada has evolved from sporadic threats into a sustained campaign of coercion that blends intimidation, opportunistic violence, and trans provincial coordination, with notable concentrations in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. Victims are often small and medium-sized business owners in sectors like retail, transportation, construction, real estate, and hospitality. Extortion events typically begin with anonymous calls or messages over encrypted chat applications demanding large payments, sometimes in the range of hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Circumstances escalate to gunfire at homes or storefronts and, in some cases, arson when demands are refused. Police statistics and media reporting reflect the scale and persistence of the problem. Across Brampton, Mississauga, and Caledon authorities logged hundreds of extortion investigations in 2024 and 2025.”