The Lawrence Bishnoi gang, an Indian-based criminal organisation, has warned Canadian police that it has 1,000 members prepared to execute attacks across the country, a court was told on Thursday. This revelation comes as Canadian authorities grapple with a mounting extortion crisis.
Gang's Letter to Police
In August 2025, the gang sent a letter to a police station in Abbotsford, British Columbia. The group, designated a terrorist entity by Canada last year, described its protection racket as “taxes” and threatened violence against businesses that refuse to pay.
Constable Kevin St Louis disclosed partial contents of the letter during a deportation hearing at the Immigration and Refugee Board. “This specific letter outlined essentially their criminal organisation, where they talked about having upwards of 1,000 individuals who are willing to carry out these shootings as a part of the group,” he testified.
“It also alludes to how every business needs to pay their tax, which I think clearly demonstrates the monetary gain that this group is looking to obtain as a result of these extortions.”
Police Response
Sergeant Paul Walker told Global News that detectives are investigating the letter’s origins and contents. “Details of this letter were shared with our law enforcement partners engaged in combating the extortion crisis across Canada,” he said. “I’m not in a position to comment further on any of the details contained within the letter or investigative steps taken since.”
Extent of the Crisis
Canadian law enforcement has been struggling with organised crime, shootings, and extortion rackets targeting the South Asian community. Approximately 3.38 million people of Indian origin or Indian citizens reside in Canada, making up about 8.3% of the population.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang originated in northern India and is named after its alleged leader, Lawrence Bishnoi, who has been imprisoned in India since 2015. Authorities believe he continues to run operations from behind bars using associates and encrypted communications.
The gang is accused of extortion, contract killings, shootings, drug and arms trafficking, and intimidating business owners and public figures. Indian security agencies link the group to several high-profile murders, including the 2022 killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala.
Recruitment Methods
Detective St Louis testified that the gang recruits Indians in Canada, paying them “small” amounts to carry out targeted killings and shootings. He noted that many recruits seek a sense of belonging. “I think a lot of them look at it as kind of being a part of an organisation or a group,” he said, adding that “a lot of them are being targeted at schools.”
The extortion gangs allegedly target South Asian business owners and residents, demanding large sums. Those who refuse face retaliatory shootings at their homes and businesses. “Every individual that we’ve identified during this investigation is a temporary foreign worker or on a student visa and relatively new to Canada,” the officer added.
Extortion demands are typically made via WhatsApp and often invoke the names of Lawrence Bishnoi or his former close associate Goldy Brar, according to the officer.
