CBSA says Bishnoi gang used student visas to expand network in Canada: Report

A classified intelligence report prepared by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), a version of which was made public during court proceedings has stated that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang used Canada’s student visa and work permit to expand its criminal network in the country.

The report, titled 'The Bishnoi Gang: An Emerging Threat in Canada' was aimed at being a guide for the Canadian border and immigration officials to get a clear picture of the gang’s modus operandi and operations.

Intelligence report revealed

According to a report by Canadian media outlet Global News, the findings reveal that the gang hired young Indians who come to Canada for studying and used them for criminal acts like extortion, shootings and murder.

Also Read: US charges Bishnoi, Brar in Nijjar assassination case; 24 arrested

The CBSA report stated that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang initially targeted Khalistan supporters or Punjabi businessmen. But they change their tactics by 2025 and began resorting to extortion also from other Indian origin communities.

Student visas under focus

It revealed that even though the extortion cases in Canada have gone down by about 10 per cent, but those filed against Indian citizen have shot up by 47 per cent.

According to the report, the criminal cases registered against Indian citizens in Canada have increased by a whopping 8,800 per cent between 2016 and 2024. It stated that between 2019 and 2023 about 4,000 Indian students were booked for 17,929 criminal offenses adding that out of these 4,920 involved serious or organised crime out of which 97 per cent were violent crimes.

Also Read: Canada lists Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity

The report stated that in 2024, authorities filed 13,040 criminal charges against Indian study permit holders. At the same time, it noted that the 2,418 Indian students were charged during the year accounted for only about one per cent of the nearly 1,88,125 Indian students living in Canada.

Gang's alleged expansion

According to the report, after the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the murder of Sukhdul Singh Gill of the rival Bambiha gang and later widened its extortion activities across British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.

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It cited the case of Abhjeet Kingra, who entered Canada on a student visa in 2018. During deportation proceedings, he said he was facing financial hardship before being offered 4,000 Canadian dollars to carry out a shooting.

In September 2024, he allegedly fired 14 rounds at Punjabi singer AP Dhillon's residence in Colwood while another accused set vehicles ablaze outside. Police linked the attack to Rohit Godara's network before Kingra was convicted and ordered deported.

Key operatives named

The report also referred to Jashandeep Singh and Arshdeep Singh, stating they arrived as Indian students and later came under investigation for alleged links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. It described Goldy Brar as the key figure overseeing the gang's Canadian network, alleging he recruited Indian youth on study and work permits while expanding extortion operations targeting South Asian business owners.