Two men charged in Canada after extortion-related shooting

Two men have been arrested and charged in Canada in connection with a shooting incident in Surrey that police are investigating as part of an extortion network. The incident occurred on April 22, when officers responded to reports of gunfire at a residence on 87A Avenue. While no one was injured, damage was sustained to a home and a vehicle.

Damanjeet Singh, 22, and Pardaman Singh, 30, were apprehended during the operation. They face charges including discharging a firearm into an occupied place and possessing a restricted firearm without a license. Both have been remanded in custody, with court appearances scheduled for May 19 and June 1, respectively.

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discharging a firearm into a place knowing or being reckless as to whether someone was present, as well as possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm without a licence.

Surrey Police Service confirmed that both Singh and Singh are foreign nationals and that the Canada Border Services Agency has been notified. Authorities have released photographs of the accused, deeming it necessary for ongoing investigations and to identify potential links to wider criminal networks involved in violent extortion cases.

The arrests come amid rising concerns in Canada about extortion-related violence targeting South Asian communities. A recent bulletin from the financial intelligence agency FINTRAC warned of a campaign using "financially vulnerable, young male Indian nationals on study permits" as operatives for targeted violence against diaspora communities.

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financially vulnerable, young male Indian nationals in Canada on study permits who are being used as foot soldiers by gangs for targeted violence