Police in Edmonton have arrested six more people in connection with the ongoing extortion of Indo-Canadian businesses and targeting local South Asian homebuilders. Police say they are now investigating 40 incidents – including fires, arson attempts and shootings – related to the series, known as Project Gaslight. On Thursday, officers arrested and charged one woman, four men and one boy believed to be connected to the crimes: Jashandeep Kaur,  Gurkaran Singh, Manav Heer,  Parminder Singh, Divnoor Asht and a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named. A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for Maninder Dhaliwal, 34, believed to be the leader of the criminal organization responsible for the extortions. Dhaliwal’s whereabouts are currently unknown, and police are working with federal counterparts to locate him. It is believed that he may have altered his appearance since his last known photograph.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff With News Files

EDMONTON – Police in Edmonton have arrested six more people in connection with the ongoing extortion of Indo-Canadian businesses and targeting local South Asian homebuilders. 

Police say they are now investigating 40 incidents – including fires, arson attempts and shootings – related to the series, known as Project Gaslight.

That includes an arson at an apartment building on Friday morning in Cavanagh.

Canada-wide warrants issued for 19-year-old man in connection with Edmonton extortions, Winnipeg shooting

On Thursday, officers arrested and charged one woman, four men and one boy believed to be connected to the crimes:

 Jashandeep Kaur, 19;

 Gurkaran Singh, 19;

 Manav Heer, 19;

 Parminder Singh, 21;

 Divnoor Asht, 19;

 And a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named.

A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for Maninder Dhaliwal, 34, believed to be the leader of the criminal organization responsible for the extortions. Dhaliwal’s whereabouts are currently unknown, and police are working with federal counterparts to locate him. It is believed that he may have altered his appearance since his last known photograph.

“From the standpoint of sheer volume of information our investigators reviewed, this was likely one of the largest investigations in the history of the EPS, resulting in substantial charges for all accused,” said Acting Insp. David Paton of the EPS Organized Crime Branch.

“We believe that the individuals identified today represent the core members of this criminal network; however, we know Dhaliwal is actively recruiting other young people, and we want parents, specifically from the South Asian community, to be aware and to have conversations with their young adults about the extortions and arsons that have been taking place.”

The group, including Dhaliwal, is facing a total of 54 charges.

“This was likely one of the largest investigations in the history of the EPS, resulting in substantial charges for all accused,” acting Ins. David Paton, with the organized crime branch, said in a press release.

“We believe that the individuals identified today represent the core members of this criminal network; however, we know Dhaliwal is actively recruiting other young people."

EPS is working with RCMP and international police to track down Dhaliwal, who investigators believe has been organizing the extortions from overseas – offering to pay young people to carry out the crimes locally.

"We've got to stop them from recruiting our youth, because it's destroying our community," EPS Chief Dale McFee said.

"The message is: We're going to find you, we're going to hold you accountable. And if this is what you choose to do, it's not going to end well for you."

Earlier this year, police had connected 34 incidents to the case, and six people were charged. That includes a 19-year-old man who was sentenced to nine months in jail.

Four others were arrested but not charged.

As of Friday, charges had been laid in 26 of the 40 reported incidents.

Supt. Adam MacIntosh of the RCMP National Coordination and Support Team (NCST) acknowledged the significant progress made by the EPS and other law enforcement agencies.

“We continue to share information and intelligence and leverage additional resources and supports as we collectively work to identify, arrest, and deter those individuals and criminal organizations targeting our communities,” he said.

Anyone with information about Maninder Dhaliwal’s whereabouts is urged to contact the police immediately at projectgaslight@edmontonpolice.ca or 780-391-4279. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250.

With Files from CTV News