- Alberta joins BC in urging Ottawa to classify the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity.
- The gang is linked to violent extortion cases targeting South Asian Canadians.
- A federal designation would empower law enforcement with expanded legal tools.
The government of Alberta is calling on Canada’s federal authorities to officially designate the Lawrence Bishnoi gang—a group based in India but linked to crimes in Canada—as a terrorist organization.
This move follows a similar plea from British Columbia’s Premier David Eby and growing concern from Ontario officials. Although the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) continues to investigate cases tied to the gang, some regional law enforcement units say there is limited direct evidence of the Bishnoi gang’s physical presence.
Canada’s Provinces Push to Label Bishnoi Gang a Terror Threat Over Criminal Ties
Alberta’s leadership issued a joint statement condemning the Bishnoi gang as a dangerous network with global reach and violent intent. The demand is not just symbolic—if Ottawa were to label the gang a terrorist entity, it would trigger laws enabling asset seizures, financial surveillance, and immigration scrutiny related to the group and its associates.
Despite the growing calls from provinces, Canada’s Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has stressed that such a designation must meet strict legal standards under the Criminal Code. Terrorist activity, by definition, must involve violence for ideological, political, or religious purposes aimed at intimidating the public—a threshold not easily met by criminal organizations.
Local law enforcement remains divided on the gang’s operational footprint. While BC’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit says the Bishnoi gang isn’t currently listed in its major criminal network database, the RCMP has launched broader investigations connecting the group to cross-border extortion schemes. Some arrests in Edmonton were linked to the Brothers Keepers gang, raising questions about overlapping affiliations or misattributions.
The Bishnoi gang has already drawn international scrutiny following the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer and politician Sidhu Moose Wala, allegedly orchestrated by Goldy Brar, an associate of Lawrence Bishnoi. India has repeatedly asked Canada to take action against Brar and others believed to be operating from Canadian soil. Alberta’s statement signals a shift in tone, with provincial leaders demanding decisive federal intervention to safeguard public safety.
The growing bipartisan pressure from Canadian provinces signals a shift in how transnational crime is being framed—as a national security threat, not just a law enforcement challenge.
“The safety of the people shall be the highest law.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
