The company hired a goon squad to scare away the protesters.
goon squad
idiomA group of individuals serving as enforcers, bodyguards, assassins, and the like, especially persons hired for such a purpose and using violent, thuggish methods.
The corrupt politician used a goon squad to threaten anyone who dared to speak out against his new policies.
Fearing for his safety, the whistleblower fled the city before the syndicate could dispatch their goon squad to silence him permanently.