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EPS “Project Gaslight” takes major step forward with multiple arrests

July 29, 2024, Edmonton, Alta. – Edmonton Police Service (EPS) detectives have arrested six suspects and issued Canada-wide warrants for a seventh in the extortion series known as “Project Gaslight”.

Edmonton police are now investigating 40 incidents related to the extortion series, with the latest occurring on July 26, 2024, involving arson at an apartment building.

On Thursday, July 25, 2024, EPS and RCMP officers executed search warrants at six locations in southeast Edmonton relating to Project Gaslight. Police also arrested and charged five males and one female believed to be involved in the extortion scheme that was targeting South Asian business owners in the Edmonton area.

Canada-wide warrants have also been issued for Maninder Singh Dhaliwal, 34, who is believed to be the leader of the criminal organization responsible for the extortions.

Jointly and individually, the seven accused are facing a total of 54 charges, including extortion, arson, intentionally discharging a firearm, break and enter, assault with a weapon, as well as a number of charges linked to committing an offence for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal organization.

“From the standpoint of sheer volume of information our investigators reviewed, this was likely one of the largest investigations in the history of the EPS, resulting in substantial charges for all accused,” says Acting Inspector David Paton, with the EPS Organized Crime Branch.

“The RCMP National Coordination and Support Team (NCST) has been monitoring the significant progress made by the Edmonton Police Service and the efforts underway by the other BC, Alberta, and Ontario law enforcement colleagues working to address similar types of extortion and violence investigations in Canada,” says Superintendent Adam MacIntosh, NCS Team Leader. “We continue to share information and intelligence and leverage additional resources and supports as we collectively work to identify, arrest and deter those individuals and criminal organizations targeting our communities.”

The EPS has laid charges in 26 of the 40 reported incidents related to this extortion series.