Calgary police have laid charges against five men related to an ongoing investigation of violent extortions targeting the South Asian community.
The charges involve an “elaborate” extortion scheme involving residents of both Edmonton and Calgary, CPS police Supt. Jeff Ball said at a press conference Friday morning.
Police allege that between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. on May 6, a man was kidnapped from a home in Edmonton by four men.
He was assaulted, threatened at gunpoint and forced into a vehicle to be driven from Edmonton to Calgary.
He was then driven to a friend’s residence in the Calgary community of Cityscape, where additional suspects and vehicles were waiting.
The suspects allegedly attempted to force the victim to lure his friend, who was the intended extortion target, out of his home, but the victim refused and was assaulted again.
While the suspects remained outside, the target of the extortion attempt and his wife attempted to leave their home.
However, they were followed and threatened with a gun before returning home, where they called police.
A short time later, police found a vehicle that was believed to be involved in the incident and pulled it over near Metis Trail and 104 Avenue N.E., where they arrested two men.
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“The remaining suspects drove the kidnapping victim back to Edmonton, where he was released near his residence early the next morning,” said Ball.
“Upon his release, he contacted police to report the kidnapping.”
On May 12, members of the CPS tactical team conducted a traffic stop in the 600 block of Martindale Boulevard N.E., where they arrested two additional suspects and seized a privately manufactured firearm (PMF).
In total, Ball said four men have been arrested and warrants have been issued for a fifth, none of whom are Canadian citizens.
“They all have some form of mixed status within Canada — everything from expired work visas through to refugee claim status,” Ball added.
Police are also investigating whether the suspects have connections to organized crime.
The accused face a combined total of more than 20 charges, including:
- Kidnapping with a firearm
- Unlawful confinement
- Assault with a weapon
- Assault
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle
While the victim of the alleged assault sustained only minor injuries, Ball said the experience has been “a very traumatizing situation for him.”
Calgary police say, since April 2025, there have been 45 extortion-related incidents in Calgary, with 19 of them involving shootings at homes, businesses or vehicles. Charges have been laid against 11 people.
Ball also offered some advice for members of the community.
“What we’re seeing is often, the offenders know who the victims are in advance and the connection is that they know that they potentially have money or some form of position of power and authority,” said Ball.
“So we urge members of the community to be very cautious in sharing private information on finances and things like that — you have to be very strategic in this day and age.”
Calgary police are asking anyone with information regarding the investigation to contact police at 403-266-1234.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online, or by downloading the Crime Stoppers app (P3 Tips) from the app store.
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