‘Violent’ crime group linked to extortion attempts and dozens of staged collisions in GTA, police say

A total of 18 people taken into custody in connection with a Peel Regional Police investigation into extortion are shown. (Peel Regional Police)

Peel police say they have dismantled a violent criminal organization that attempted to extort hundreds of thousands of dollars from members of the community and defraud insurance companies by staging collisions across GTA roadways.

Details of the investigation, dubbed Project Outsource, were announced at a news conference in Peel Region on Monday morning.

According to investigators, 18 people have been arrested and are facing a total of nearly 100 charges in the probe, which was launched in July 2024.

The investigation was launched by the police service’s extortion investigation task force in response to a “sharp” rise in violent extortions in 2023 that targeted members of the South Asian business community, Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah told reporters on Monday.

“The threats escalated into a variety of different offences, including drive-by shootings, arsons, a variety of acts of violence that spread fear and insecurity,” he said.

Det. Brian Lorette, who led the task force, said a Brampton-based group was identified as the perpetrators of a “significant portion” of these crimes, as well as “offences in the towing industry.”

In addition to the extortion attempts, police said the group was responsible for staging “dozens” of collisions on GTA roadways in an effort to defraud insurance companies.

Lorette would not provide specific information about the incidents uncovered during the investigation but said the staged collisions were “fraudulent in every aspect.”

“They start at the planning stage. These are collisions that are often happening on our roadways, which obviously have a public safety impact, sometimes including police, ambulance and fire attending the scene,” he said.

“They continue the fraud all the way through the reporting and through the insurance industry to reap the material benefits of the fraud.”

Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich said in total, the fraudulent claims exceeded $1 million.

An estimated $4.2 million worth of assets were seized as part of the probe, including 18 tow trucks, police noted. The trucks, Lorette said, were “some of the tools” used ”to commit their offences.”

The suspects, police said, were believed to be associated with towing companies operating under the names Certified Roadside and Humble Roadside.

Four high-end personal vehicles, five stolen vehicles, six firearms, 600 rounds of ammunition, two bulletproof vests, and $45,000 in Canadian currency were also seized as part of the investigation.

The seizures occurred during the execution of 67 search warrants in Peel Region, Caledon, York Region, and Toronto on June 10, Lorette added. The investigation was conducted with the assistance of other GTA police forces, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

“This investigation is still ongoing and we anticipate further arrests and charges,” Lorette said.

“We believe the guns and tow trucks seized during this investigation as well as the arrests made will have a significant impact on our region as well as across the GTA and throughout Canada.”