The Bishnoi Gang, an India-based transnational criminal organization, has reportedly sent a letter to a police station in Abbotsford, British Columbia, claiming to have a thousand operatives ready to carry out its activities in Canada. The letter, delivered on August 13, 2025, outlined the group's structure and intent to extort businesses, according to testimony from Edmonton Police Constable Kevin St. Louis during a deportation hearing.
What is the Bishnoi Gang?
According to Public Safety Canada, the Bishnoi Gang is a criminal organization operating primarily out of India. The government describes the group as one that generates terror through extortion, intimidation, murder, shootings, and arson. The gang has a presence in Canada, particularly in areas with significant diaspora communities, targeting prominent community members, businesses, and cultural figures.
Who is Lawrence Bishnoi?
Lawrence Bishnoi, born on February 12, 1993, in Dutarawali, Punjab, India, is the founder and kingpin of the gang. Despite being a law-school graduate, he has been incarcerated in India since 2015 on multiple charges. Currently held in Sabarmati jail in Ahmedabad, Bishnoi has been moved between prisons due to security concerns and his history of violating jail rules.
Connection to Canada
The Bishnoi Gang's operations in Canada have raised alarms. The letter sent to the Abbotsford police station explicitly mentioned the group's ability to mobilize 1,000 individuals for shootings and extortion. Constable St. Louis noted that the letter alluded to businesses needing to pay a tax, highlighting the group's monetary motives.
Canada's Response
In September 2025, the Canadian government listed the Bishnoi Gang as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree stated that this designation provides powerful tools to confront the group, including freezing or seizing assets and criminalizing dealings with the organization. The listing aims to protect targeted communities from terror, violence, and intimidation.
The Bishnoi Gang's activities underscore the challenges of transnational crime, with the group leveraging its network to instill fear and exert control over diaspora communities in Canada.
