Canada's Bishnoi gang infiltration via Indian student visas revealed

A classified Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) report details how the India‑based Bishnoi gang, led by Lawrence Bishnoi, has expanded its criminal network in Canada by exploiting Indian student and work visas. The report names top lieutenant Goldy Brar, who arrived in 2017 on a student visa to Thompson Rivers University but allegedly never attended classes, and describes the gang’s use of “local young males of Indian origin” as independent contractors for extortion, shootings and arsons targeting South Asian communities in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.

The CBSA’s “Tactical Guide” warns of the gang’s “growing operational presence in Canada” and “demonstrated use of Canada’s immigration programs for criminal purposes.” It notes a 47 % rise in extortion charges against Indian citizens in 2024, while overall extortion rates fell, and highlights an 8,800 % increase in crimes linked to Indian student permit holders between 2016 and 2024. Law enforcement agencies have made arrests and deported dozens of suspects, but senior gang leaders remain at large.

The intelligence document urges immigration officials to recognize the threat posed by the Bishnoi gang’s alliances with local street gangs and its alleged ties to the commercial motor‑vehicle sector, which facilitate the movement of associates and contraband across provinces.