The Premier of British Columbia David Eby mulls to ask Prime Minister Mark Carney to officially declare the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organisation in Canada. This step would give police more power to investigate the gang and stop crimes like extortion, where people are forced to pay money through threats or violence.
As reported by the Vancouver Sun, Premier Eby said the gang is a serious problem not only in British Columbia, but also in Alberta and Ontario. The gang is believed to be connected to criminal groups from India and it has been involved in crimes especially targetting members of the South Asian community in Canada.
Eby said on Tuesday that he will write to Prime Minister Carney to ask for this terrorist label, explaining that it would help police "use the necessary tools to investigate."
Police have reported that some South Asian Canadians have received death threats and were forced to pay large sums of money. One victim, Satish Kumar who was the president of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Temple and owner of Reflections Banquet Halls, told the Vancouver Sun that he received a threat after refusing to pay USD 2 million to an extortionist.
Eby also noted that Canada has previously declared a Mexican drug cartel as a terrorist group and said this situation is equally serious. “This is a serious step. We don’t make this recommendation lightly,” Eby said. “But this activity strikes at public confidence in the justice system and in our democracy.”
In May 2025, India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Rahul Sarkar who is a key member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. He was reportedly helping other gang members escape by using fake passports. Sarkar is now in NIA custody for further investigation.
Eby hopes this move will make communities safer and give police the legal power needed to act strongly against criminal gangs operating in Canada.
