Extortion-linked immigration investigations surge amid Brampton, Mississauga crime wave

Brampton and Mississauga are once again in the spotlight as federal authorities ramp up enforcement efforts targeting alleged extortion-linked organized crime across the Greater Toronto Area.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says it has launched nearly 200 immigration investigations in the GTA tied to suspected extortion activity, part of a wider national push to disrupt criminal networks operating in Canadian communities — including in Peel Region, where extortion has become a growing public safety concern.

The issue has been especially visible in Brampton, where police, politicians and business owners have raised repeated alarms over a wave of extortion threats, shootings, arson and intimidation targeting local entrepreneurs. Mississauga has also seen similar incidents, as law enforcement agencies warn that organized crime groups are increasingly using fear and violence to pressure victims for money.

CBSA says its role is to investigate whether individuals identified by police may be inadmissible under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Those cases can lead to removal orders and eventual deportation from the country.

While the agency does not publicly break down the immigration status of individuals under investigation, enforcement action typically involves foreign nationals in Canada — including individuals living in the country on temporary immigration status — who are found to be linked to criminal activity or other grounds of inadmissibility.

The CBSA began enhanced tracking of immigration enforcement cases tied to extortion in August 2025, initially focusing on western Canada before expanding the initiative to the Greater Toronto Area in November.

As of June 18, the agency says it has opened 196 immigration investigations in the GTA connected to suspected extortion activity. Those cases have resulted in 33 removal orders being issued, with 17 individuals already removed from Canada.

Nationally, CBSA reports 484 investigations, 139 removal orders and 81 removals linked to the same enforcement strategy.

The federal agency says it is working closely with police services through joint task forces targeting serious and organized crime, to disrupt networks that operate across borders and within Canadian communities.

Officials say the approach is not limited to enforcement alone, but is also aimed at preventing individuals linked to organized crime from using Canada as a base of operations.

“Canadians deserve to feel safe in their homes, workplaces, and communities,” Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said in a statement, adding that the government is committed to removing individuals who are involved in criminal activity and have no legal right to remain in Canada.

CBSA President Erin O’Gorman said the agency is focused on ensuring those involved in extortion-related activity “cannot find safe haven in Canada.”

The federal government says it is expanding enforcement capacity through its Border Plan and Budget 2025, including hiring 1,000 new border officers and increasing annual removal targets to about 20,000 individuals.

CBSA also operates a Border Watch Line for members of the public to report information about individuals believed to be inadmissible to Canada.