Man accused of orchestrating Edmonton arson, extortion scheme arrested in United Arab Emirates

Maninder Singh Dhaliwal, the alleged mastermind behind a series of arsons targeting South Asian home builders in Edmonton, has been apprehended in the United Arab Emirates on separate charges. Edmonton police have announced that they are seeking to have Dhaliwal extradited to Alberta to face charges related to the extortion cases.

The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) has been investigating a string of incidents involving extortion and arson, with the most recent arson occurring on July 26. Police believe Dhaliwal is the leader of the criminal organization responsible for these crimes.

Insp. Duane Hunter, with the EPS organized crime branch, described the investigation as a massive effort that involved international coordination. He expressed satisfaction in seeing the case progress to the point of requesting Dhaliwal’s extradition.

However, Dhaliwal’s extradition may face challenges due to the absence of an extradition treaty between Canada and the UAE. Without such an agreement in place, it is unclear how Dhaliwal can be transferred back to Canada to stand trial.

Last July, a Canada-wide warrant was issued for Dhaliwal in connection with the extortion incidents that targeted new or under-construction homes owned by South Asian builders. The investigation, known as Project Gaslight, has been ongoing and has led to multiple arrests.

Dhaliwal is accused of orchestrating the crimes from abroad, recruiting individuals in Edmonton to carry out threats and arson attacks in exchange for payment. The investigation has uncovered 40 related incidents, including arsons, drive-by shootings, and firearms incidents.

Court documents obtained by CBC reveal details of one arson incident from over two years ago, where suspects were caught on surveillance cameras lighting two neighboring homes on fire. The property owner had been monitoring the sites closely after receiving extortion threats.

Several suspects, including Dhaliwal and six others, were arrested and charged last summer. A total of 54 charges were laid against them, including extortion, arson, firearms offenses, and crimes linked to a criminal organization.

The cases against the suspects have been progressing through the legal system, with prosecutors disclosing over 4,100 documents and 270 recordings to the defense lawyers. The Crown is seeking a four-week preliminary hearing, with the next court date set for February 4.

As the extradition process for Dhaliwal unfolds, the Edmonton community remains on edge, hoping for justice to be served in the wake of these disturbing crimes.