July 29,2025
RED FM News Desk
The Edmonton Police Service is working to strengthen its relationship with the South Asian community following a recent surge in extortion incidents across the city.
At a town hall held Monday night at the Southwood Community League, police shared updates on six new extortion cases reported since May.
Authorities said they are applying key insights from Project Gaslight—a year-long investigation into threats, arsons, and shootings targeting South Asian home builders that concluded in summer 2024—to help tackle this new wave of crime. Although Interim Police Chief Warren Driechel said the current investigation is separate, he acknowledged it bears many similarities to Project Gaslight.
“These activities are very similar,” Driechel noted.
He emphasized that one of the most important lessons from Project Gaslight was the need for quicker community engagement. Driechel acknowledged that many people are hesitant to come forward due to fears of retaliation, which is why police are focused on building trust and helping the community feel safe.
Despite these efforts, some community members voiced ongoing concerns, with one person stating that people still feel unsafe and are resorting to hiring private security.
Police have previously linked the recent extortion cases to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which Alberta and B.C. premiers have urged the federal government to label a terrorist organization.
Officers also warned the South Asian community to stay alert for suspicious activity among youth, pointing out that Project Gaslight leaders often recruited young people to carry out crimes.
“Youth can feel alienated and are sometimes searching for a sense of belonging,” said Superintendent Robinder Gill.
He advised families to be mindful of warning signs—such as sudden access to large sums of money, secrecy about social circles, or signs of not fitting in—as early intervention is critical in preventing youth involvement in criminal networks.
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