Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): Canada has deported four men from Punjab after authorities found them inadmissible over their alleged involvement in extortion-related offences and connections to criminal organisations.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) identified the individuals as Palwinder Singh, Jasmer Singh, Amitoz Bajwa and Sahibjot Singh. According to the agency, each case involved extortion-related violence or offences associated with organised crime.
Their removal followed decisions by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, which determined that the four were inadmissible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
111 People Removed in Extortion-Linked Cases
The latest deportations form part of a broader Canadian enforcement drive targeting extortion and organised criminal activity.
CBSA figures show that by September 3, 2026, authorities had issued 188 removal orders across Canada on various inadmissibility grounds and completed 111 removals.
The Pacific region accounted for 91 removal orders and 58 removals, followed by the Prairies with 47 orders and 30 removals. In the Greater Toronto Area, authorities recorded 50 orders and 23 removals.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said the enforcement action reflects Canada’s efforts to disrupt extortion networks through coordination between border authorities and law enforcement agencies. CBSA President Erin O’Gorman said the removal figures demonstrate the impact of joint enforcement efforts.
CBSA Steps Up Immigration Enforcement
The agency removed 23,160 inadmissible individuals in 2025, including 1,010 people whose cases involved serious grounds of inadmissibility such as organised crime, criminality, national security concerns, war crimes or human rights violations.
The CBSA currently removes about 400 inadmissible people each week. Under Canada’s Border Plan, $30.4 million has been allocated to expand the agency’s capacity, with a target of completing 20,000 removals annually.
The government also plans to recruit 1,000 additional CBSA officers under the Border Plan and Budget 2025. About 530 officers are currently dedicated to immigration enforcement duties, including investigations, detention, hearings and removals.
Extortion Networks Under Increased Scrutiny
The crackdown comes amid growing concern over extortion targeting South Asian communities in Canada.
A recent FINTRAC bulletin described a sustained pattern in which criminal groups allegedly recruit vulnerable young men, including some Indian nationals in Canada on study permits, to carry out violence and intimidation on behalf of gangs.
The agency also warned that smaller groups and copycat offenders may be using the reputation of established gangs to make extortion threats appear more credible.
Meanwhile, Canadian police have released photographs of 15 men charged in connection with extortion investigations involving members of the South Asian community. The Calgary Police Service said 16 people had been charged with a total of 56 offences, with one accused remaining in custody and the others released on bail.
The latest deportations underscore Canada’s increasingly aggressive focus on tackling extortion while using immigration enforcement measures against foreign nationals found inadmissible under federal law.
