Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown is applauding the Government of Canada’s decision to formally designate the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code. This designation follows months of advocacy from municipal leaders, law enforcement and community organizations—including Mayor Brown’s June 2025 letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree calling for urgent action.
“The Bishnoi gang is sophisticated, transnational and ruthless,” said Mayor Brown. “If law enforcement is to dismantle their networks, we must match — or exceed — that sophistication. This new designation gives police and security agencies the authority to follow their money, interdict recruitment and shut down transit and communication links that enable their operations.”
The Bishnoi gang, led by Lawrence Bishnoi from prison in India, has been linked to murders, extortion schemes and intimidation campaigns across Canada, particularly targeting members of the South Asian diaspora. The federal designation empowers Canadian authorities to seize property, freeze bank accounts, immobilize vehicles and disrupt travel. It provides enhanced tools to target the gang’s finances, recruitment and cross-border movement. Border officials will also gain stronger powers to scrutinize and act on the admissibility of individuals entering Canada who may be tied to or facilitating the gang.
Mayor Brown extends gratitude to the federal government for responding to the urgent calls of Peel Regional Police, British Columbia Premier David Eby, and the World Sikh Organization—along with municipal leaders across the country, including Brenda Locke, Mayor of Surrey, Amarjeet Sohi, Mayor of Edmonton and Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta—who have all urged the federal government to take decisive action.
“This designation equips law enforcement with the critical tools they need to protect communities, deter further violence and extortion, and restore public confidence,” Brown added. “I am especially grateful to Prime Minister Carney and Minister Anandasangaree for their leadership and responsiveness on this pressing issue.”
The Mayor reiterated the City of Brampton’s ongoing commitment to work with federal, provincial, and municipal partners to combat organized crime and ensure safety for all residents.
