Two Indian nationals have been charged and 12 others are wanted by Canadian law enforcement in connection with a criminal tourism racket that investigators say was linked to organised crime and high profit offences carried out in Canada.
The Indian nationals were among 46 individuals charged under a long term investigation called Project Jetsetter. Police also said 164 suspects remain at large. The investigation focused on what authorities described as organised groups travelling to Canada for the purpose of executing repeat, coordinated and profit driven crimes.
Project Jetsetter Tracks Wide Criminal Network
Canadian investigators said the probe covered a broad range of organised criminal activity, including large scale retail theft operations, vehicle purchasing scams, vehicle financing fraud, staged collisions for insurance fraud, jewellery distraction thefts, and the theft and export of vehicles and other goods.
In a statement released on Friday, the Durham Regional Police Service said the initiative targeted groups travelling to Canada to carry out high profit crimes, often connected to international criminal networks. The force said the offences were deliberate, coordinated and designed to maximise financial gain.
The two Indians charged were identified as 23 year old Arshjot Singh Dhillon and 23 year old Arman Sharma.
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Names of Wanted Indian Nationals Released
Police also named 12 Indian nationals wanted for their alleged involvement in the criminal tourism racket. They were identified as Arshdeep Gurm, 25, Savan Dharmeshbhai Pavadiya, 26, Jagdeep Singh, 34, Gurpreet Kaur, 33, Harsimran Singh Dhillon, 28, Amarjeet Singh Gill, 33, Gurinder Singh, 28, Pardeep Kumar, 31, Sher Singh, 31, Paramjeet Singh, 43, Jasdeep Singh, 30, and Nitika Singla, 28.
Authorities said the majority of those named in the 73 page accused list released by police were Romanians, indicating that the alleged network extended well beyond a single nationality.
Losses, Charges and Investigation Scale
The Durham Regional Police Service said its Financial Crimes Unit tracked more than 200 incidents tied to criminal tourism through more than nine separate investigations and over 5,000 investigative hours. Police said the confirmed financial losses in Durham Region of Ontario alone exceeded CA$ 2.61 million.
Investigators said the cases connected to Project Jetsetter date back to 2019, involve more than 1,440 charges and remain ongoing as authorities continue to identify additional incidents linked to criminal tourism.
Mario Panizzon, Director General of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s National Intelligence, said criminal tourism is a recent and borderless form of organised crime that affects the daily lives of Canadians and underlines the need for stronger global partnerships. He said the intelligence programme works closely with policing partners to connect the dots and enhance public safety.
The case reflects growing concern among Canadian authorities over transnational criminal networks that allegedly move across borders to carry out structured financial and property related offences, leaving investigators to track not only individual suspects but wider international links.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
