nts
ntal Care Plan) patie
nadian De Accepting CDCP( Ca
ns
l Crow lants Denta Dental Impowns Ceramic Cr Bridges es Sem-Clear Brac Speed Braces Invisalign ry General Dentist Orthodontics Implants ning Cosmetic White es Treatment ac Br st Fa Providing
TATION FREE CONSUL
, Dr. R. Sidhu
604 543 5060
titioner
General Dental Prac
DDS
y 0th Street, Surre
www.theasianstar.com
#215 - 7110, 12
VOL 26 - ISSUE 5
SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2026
CBSA says efforts to ‘disrupt extortion networks’ led to 70 removal orders
Second Indian diaspora day in Vancouver
The Canada Border Services Agency says it has opened 372 immigration investigations in an effort to “disrupt extortion networks” across the country. It says the CBSA began formally monitoring immigration enforcement cases potentially linked to extortion in the Pacific and Prairie regions last August before expanding the work to the Greater Toronto Area in November. The agency says that as of last Thursday, it had issued a total of 70 removal orders on various inadmissibility grounds, and 35 have been enforced. Continued on Page 10...
His Excellency Dinesh K. Patnaik, High Commissioner of India to Canada; David Eby, BC Premier; and Consul General Masakui Rungsung at the 2nd Diaspora Day in Vancouver on 15th March 2026
2 Punjabi youth from Edmonton deported to India for Extortion A joint operation involving Edmonton police has led to the deportation of two men, over what police say is a wave of extortions targeting the city's South Asian community. Edmonton Police Service along with officials from the Lower Mainland District RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) provided new details Thursday during a news conference. CBSA said at the news conference it deported a 22-year-old man who was allegedly the ringleader in carrying out extortions in the Edmonton area. A 25-year-old man was also removed from Canada and three others are
TEL: 604-591-5423
being investigated. CBSA later confirmed to CBC News that the two men in question are Indian nationals Arshdeep Singh, Sukhnaaz Singh Sandhu. Officials said some of the suspects are connected to extortions in Calgary, the B.C. Lower Mainland and Ontario. According to Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) records obtained by CBC News, Arshdeep Singh and Sukhnaaz Singh Sandhu were known to each other — and to the alleged "prime conspirator" behind a series of extortion-linked shootings at a Surrey, B.C., café. Continued on Page 4...
Why Punjabi builders in Canada are living under extreme fear OTTAWA: The rising extortion threats faced by Punjabi builders in Canada's Vancouver are a clear warning that unchecked organised crime does not remain confined to a suburb or group but spreads across communities, erodes trust, stifles growth, and weakens the nation,
a report highlighted on Tuesday. According to a report in Khalsa Vox, what began as isolated incidents in Surrey city, involving cash demands often communicated via phone calls, social media, or letters, has metastasised into a broader issue. Continued on Page 10...
On 15th March 2026, the Consulate General of India, Vancouver celebrated its 2nd Diaspora Day in Vancouver, recognizing the contributions of the Indian diaspora to Canada’s social, economic and cultural life. More than 600 members of the Indian diaspora community attended the event, which brought together political and business leaders, professionals, students and representatives from community organizations. The evening was attended by several dignitaries including British Columbia Premier Honorable David Eby, High Commissioner of India to Canada H.E. Dinesh Patnaik, Legislative Assemble Speaker Raj Chauhan, Minister Jagrup Brar, Parliamentary Secretary Sunita Dhir, MLA Rohini Arora, and VPD chief Steve Rai. Continued on Page 8...
India's cheap weightloss drugs could reshape global obesity fight
Gaba Tire
ALL TIRES AVAILABLE (AS, AT MT & SEMI TRUCK)
WHOLESALE TIRES Installation Available
ABBOTSFORD
31324 - 107 Peardonville Rd 604-897-3235 604-746-4222
KAMLOOPS
133 Wilson Street 250-572-5444 India could soon get a lot thinner - at least in theory. On Friday the patent on semaglutide the molecule behind Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk's blockbuster weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic - expires in the country. This will allow domestic pharmaceutical companies to release cheaper copies or generics, triggering a rush of competition that could slash prices by more than half and rapidly expand access for people in India, and eventually in other countries too. Investment bank Jefferies has called it a potential "magic-pill moment" for India, predicting the semaglutide market could eventually reach $1bn domestically with the right pricing and uptake. Continued on Page 4...