Another police probe in southern Ontario connected a violent crime wave to the tow truck industry, this time a large criminal network accused of extortion, fraud, shootings and arson.
Peel Regional Police said more than $4.2 million in assets were seized and 18 people were arrested, including two men alleged to be the bosses behind a network involved in two streams of criminality: one dedicated to extortion and violence, and the other to systematic fraud through staged car collisions rooted in the towing industry.
Of the 18 charged, almost half were already on a form of judicial release for previous charges at the time of their arrest.
Since their most recent arrest, three of the 18 were quickly released with an order to attend court at a later date. Of the 15 who were held in police custody pending a court appearance, seven have had that hearing, where all but one was released on bail. The remainder await a court hearing.
In 2023 a wave of violent extortions — demands for large sums of money accompanied by threats of violence — targeted members of the South Asian business community in Peel, west and northwest of Toronto encompassing the cities of Mississauga and Brampton.
“These threats escalated into a variety of different offences including drive-by shootings, arson, a variety of acts of violence that spread fear and insecurity, not just into our local community but it gripped international news,” said Peel’s Chief of Police Nishan Duraiappah.
Patrick Brown, mayor of Brampton, said the extortions and violence terrified his community.
“Everyone was scared. They heard about these incidents and there was a real concern that we were only hearing the tip of the iceberg, that there’s more and more of these very dangerous extortions happening.”
The police response led to a task force formed last summer that led to a large probe named Project Outsource.
The investigation pointed to two Brampton men who are now under arrested. Investigators allege Inderjit Dhami, 38, and Paritosh Chopra, 32, were at the top of the criminal organization’s hierarchy.
“They are charged with instructing the commission of an offense for a criminal organization,” said Peel’s Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich. “What that means is they were in charge of this organization and providing direction to others that were a part of it,” he alleged. “This was a crime group who attempted to extort hundreds of thousands of dollars from our community with threats and also engaged in tow industry related violence and crimes like fraud.”
A police parking lot packed with items seized during the investigation, raids and arrests — 18 tow trucks, six guns, a crossbow, 586 rounds of ammunition, cash, a stun gun, baseball bats and a ballistic vest with a “POLICE” logo on it — suggested the violence or potential violence involved.
“We have substantial evidence linking the group to dozens of staged accidents and potentially costing insurance companies between $80,000 and $100,000 for each staged accident. In total those fraudulent claims exceed a million dollars for this particular investigationm” Milinovich said.
“To our community members, if you receive a demand for money under violence do not pay. Call the police immediately. We are committed to protecting your identity and your safety,” he said.
Acting Detective Sergeant Brian Lorette, the primary investigator in Project Outsource, said the 18 tow trucks seized, valued at $2.8 million, were found to be associated with two towing companies, operating under the names Certified Roadside and Humble Roadside.
Four personal vehicles, valued at $840,000, were seized and five stolen vehicles recovered.
Lorette said the investigation is still ongoing, and he anticipates further arrests and charges. The guns are being examined both to trace their source and also for potential use in other crimes. One gun has already been linked to a shooting. A ballistic vest bearing a police logo was seized from one of the accused, he said. Police are investigating its authenticity and whether it came from a police service.
All but one of the accused is a male living in Brampton. One woman was arrested, who lived in King City, north of Toronto. Like their victims, almost all of those arrested are from the South Asian community.
The announcement was used by federal and provincial politicians to promote their crime reduction policies and promises.
Ruby Sahota, federal secretary of state of combating crime in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new cabinet, was bullish on the Liberal’s crackdown.
“This is not just an investigation, it’s a turning point,” she said, calling the Peel announcement “a warning to organized crime that we will not stop here. Our new government is going to provide law enforcement with even more tools to take down organized crime.
“When law enforcement does great work like they have today through Project Outsource, we need to make sure that it’s met with a bail and sentencing system that fits the nature of these crimes.”
Silvia Gualtieri, Ontario’s parliamentary assistant to the solicitor general, said public safety is an Ontario government priority.
“There has never been a government more focused on public safety than the one under the leadership of Premier Ford. Thanks to his leadership, Ontarians can wake up, go to work, and return home knowing their safety is a top priority every single day.”
A violent turf war over tow trucking business and ancillary spin offs, such as auto repairs, insurance payments, and medical and therapy bills, has been hitting the Greater Toronto Area with shootings and arsons for several years.
Earlier this month, Toronto police announced that a shocking mass shooting inside a Toronto pub in March was linked to an ongoing tow truck turf war that included other shootings and a robbery. Toronto police charged 11 people in their probe.
• Email: ahumphreys@postmedia.com | Twitter: AD_Humphreys
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