According to Canada's intelligence service, foreign governments are employing crime groups to pursue political opponents within Canada, as stated in its annual report released recently. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service highlighted a troubling trend of states utilizing organized crime networks for conducting threat activities. These underworld syndicates are being tasked with carrying out 'transnational repression' of legitimate speech in Canada, among other harmful activities.

The report mentioned instances of Iran's intelligence service hiring outlaw biker gang members for a killing, as well as India's alleged connections to gang violence in Canada. Evidence from the RCMP linked Indian government agents to criminal networks involved in promoting violent activities in South Asian communities in Canada. The report also pointed out India's alleged involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C., indicating a significant escalation in India's repression efforts.

The report was made public following the conclusion of the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in attendance. The decision to invite Modi drew criticism due to India's suspected role in violence within Canada. The RCMP suspects Indian agents were involved in the killing of Nijjar, a B.C. Sikh temple leader and pro-Khalistan activist.

More than a dozen 'credible and imminent threats to life' prompted police to warn suspected targets, including Jagmeet Singh, the then NDP leader. The RCMP believes that the Lawrence Bishnoi crime group has been utilized by the Indian intelligence service to carry out tasks in Canada. B.C. Premier David Eby has called for the gang to be added to the list of designated terrorist organizations.

India has declined to cooperate with RCMP investigations into these incidents, with Canadian officials holding Amit Shah, a close aide to Modi, responsible. The CSIS report accused India of using 'proxy agents' to influence Canadian communities and politicians, particularly regarding the Khalistan movement.

According to the CSIS report, India, along with China, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan, is among the top foreign perpetrators of interference and espionage in Canada. The report highlighted a case where two Canadians were charged in connection with an alleged murder-for-hire plot targeting Iranian defectors. The suspects were allegedly directed by an Iranian-Turkish narcotics trafficker to target dissidents and opposition activists.

The G7 leaders expressed deep concern over reports of transnational repression and vowed to intensify efforts to combat aggressive foreign interference by states and their proxies.