Canada Border Services Agency Cracks Down on Extortion, Issues Hundreds of Removal Orders

Canada Border Services Agency Targets Extortion with Removal Orders

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has conducted a significant enforcement campaign targeting foreign nationals suspected of involvement in extortion and organized crime. This operation, which began in western Canada and expanded to the Greater Toronto Area, has resulted in numerous removal orders and completed removals. The CBSA’s efforts highlight a broader strategy to enhance public safety by addressing individuals who pose a threat to Canadian communities.

CBSA’s Extortion Crackdown: Key Figures and Timeline

The nationwide crackdown on extortion activities has yielded substantial results for the CBSA. As of September 3, 2026, the agency reported that 111 individuals were removed from Canada, and 188 removal orders were issued. These figures stem from an enforcement initiative that commenced in the Pacific and Prairie regions in August 2025. The operation later extended its reach to the Greater Toronto Area in November 2025, continuing its focus on inadmissible foreign nationals.

The distinction between removal orders and completed removals is important. A removal order signifies that an individual has been found inadmissible to Canada and is subject to being removed. However, it does not mean they have already departed the country. The CBSA’s reported numbers reflect both stages of this enforcement process.

Regional Breakdown of Enforcement Actions

The CBSA provided a regional breakdown of the enforcement actions, showing variations in the number of removal orders issued and removals completed across different areas. The Pacific Region recorded the highest numbers, with 91 removal orders and 58 individuals removed. The Prairie Region followed with 47 removal orders and 30 removals. In the Greater Toronto Area, the operation resulted in 50 removal orders and 23 completed removals. These figures illustrate the scope of the campaign across different parts of the country.

Region	Removal Orders	Removals
Pacific Region	91	58
Prairie Region	47	30
Greater Toronto Area	50	23

Understanding Inadmissibility Findings vs. Criminal Convictions

It is important to understand that the cases addressed by the CBSA in this crackdown are based on inadmissibility findings under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). These findings can be related to criminality, serious criminality, or organized crime. Such immigration findings are separate from criminal convictions in Canadian courts. While the underlying conduct may be similar, a criminal conviction establishes guilt in a court of law, whereas an inadmissibility finding determines whether a foreign national meets the legal requirements to remain in Canada.

The CBSA relies on information from law enforcement partners, other government agencies, its own investigations, and public reporting to identify foreign nationals connected to extortion networks and other organized crime activities. The Immigration and Refugee Board may also make inadmissibility findings in individual cases, with legal bases that can vary.

Specific Cases Highlight Enforcement Context

The enforcement context includes cases like Palwinder Singh, Jasmer Singh, Amitoz Bajwa, and Sahibjot Singh. Palwinder Singh was linked to an extortion-related shooting and found inadmissible for membership in a criminal organization. Jasmer Singh had a Canadian conviction for forcible confinement, leading to an inadmissibility finding for serious criminality. Amitoz Bajwa and Sahibjot Singh were also identified as removed and linked to extortion-related and organized-crime activities. These descriptions pertain to the enforcement context and do not, on their own, confirm criminal convictions for extortion in Canada. The distinction between a criminal conviction and an immigration inadmissibility finding is a key aspect of these case records.

Broader Strategy to Increase Removals

This extortion crackdown is part of a larger initiative by the CBSA to increase the pace of removals of inadmissible individuals. The agency has reported a removal pace of approximately 400 inadmissible individuals per week. This effort is supported by $30.4 million in funding from Canada’s Border Plan, aimed at boosting capacity. The plan includes a goal of completing 20,000 removals annually in the last fiscal year and for 2026-2027. This increased capacity supports various removal operations, including those targeting organized crime and extortion.

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