SURREY (Rajeev Sharma): — British Columbia police say they are intensifying efforts to dismantle extortion networks as investigations stretch beyond provincial borders, resulting in multiple criminal charges, deportations, and immigration reviews.
Assistant RCMP Commissioner John Brewer said authorities are “actively hunting” extortion suspects across B.C., Alberta, and Ontario, as criminals adapt their tactics in response to enforcement pressure. Providing a four-month update since the launch of the BC Extortion Task Force, Brewer emphasized that law enforcement remains focused on arresting suspects and removing those without legal standing in Canada. Police are working closely with the Canada Border Services Agency, which is currently assessing the admissibility of 111 foreign nationals linked to extortion-related investigations. “Making a refugee claim does not exempt lawbreakers from the consequences of their actions,” Brewer told a news conference in Surrey.
Since its establishment in September, the task force has taken over 32 extortion-related files across the Lower Mainland, targeting a wave of shootings and blackmail attempts that have largely impacted the South Asian community. To date, seven individuals have been criminally charged and nine have been expelled from Canada, while additional cases are being finalized with Crown prosecutors to lay further charges.
The update comes amid continued violence in Surrey. Police confirmed another extortion-linked shooting early Monday around 4:30 a.m. along King George Boulevard near 71 Avenue. While no injuries were reported, a business and several vehicles were damaged. Serious crime investigators have taken over the case, which is believed to be connected to the broader extortion campaign. The incident marks at least.
