B.C. announces task force into extortions in the South Asian community

B.C. is launching a task force to help further investigations into extortion threats targeting the South Asian community.

Extortionists have increasingly been threatening business owners and individuals across the Lower Mainland, but especially in Surrey. Surrey police are currently investigating 45 cases of extortion in the city, including 27 that involved shootings.

Nina Krieger, B.C.’s minister of public safety and solicitor general, announced the task force Wednesday afternoon alongside B.C. RCMP and Crime Stoppers. The extortion task force will be led by the RCMP and will consist of 40 officers from the RCMP, as well as those from Surrey, Abbotsford, Delta, Transit Police and the Canada Border Services Agency.

“This comprehensive approach will expand cross-jurisdictional reach, supporting coordinated investigations to bring criminals threatening and perpetrating violence in our communities to justice,” Krieger said.

In Surrey, extortion cases ramped up in June. While they have since slowed down, extortion threats and related shootings continue to impact the community.

Most recently, police responded to two car fires in the 5800-block of 124th Street shortly before 6:30 a.m. Sunday. The incident is under investigation, but it is considered suspicious, Surrey police confirmed, adding it may be linked to extortion.

“This dedicated and expanded team brings in additional resources, intelligence and tactical skills from multiple law-enforcement agencies, with the common goals of protecting our communities from these extortions, while pursuing and holding those responsible for the violence, intimidation and fear accountable,” said John Brewer, assistant commissioner of the B.C. RCMP.

Surrey police have an existing extortion task force and the RCMP created another one in January to investigate extortions in the Lower Mainland.

When asked by a reporter why another task force is needed, Krieger explained that those initiatives have been successful, but maintains the one newly announced is different and looks at the cases on a national and international level rather than just municipal or regional.

The new task force will be investigating the existing extortion files across B.C. and new ones that arise.

Between 2021 and 2023, there has been a 23 per cent increase in extortion threats across B.C., according to Statistics Canada, Krieger said.

Brewer was unable to provide the number of extortion files in the province.

RCMP Supt. Adam McIntosh said some leads in the extortion cases point outside of Canada and they continue to “every day.”

B.C. is also making available $200,000 through the federal Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund to support local police departments investigate extortion cases.

Earlier this week, Surrey announced it was offering Surrey police access to a fund of $250,000 that can be used to reward anyone who provides information that leads to charges and convictions.

During that announcement, Surrey Police Chief Norm Lipinski said the department is getting closer to landing arrests in some of their investigations, while none have been made so far.

“We have a number of cases before Crown Counsel. In the last few weeks, we have executed a number of search warrants so off the top of my head, we have made six arrests in four instances of those search warrants,” Brewer said.

Surrey isn’t the only municipality dealing with a rash of extortion threats against residents. A national team was set up in 2023 to help police departments in Brampton, Ont., Edmonton and Surrey, which were all investigating cases of extortion.

Police in Brampton and Edmonton have made some arrests.

B.C. Crime Stoppers is also running a public awareness campaign to encourage individuals with information on the extortion cases to come forward anonymously. According to police, reports increased since the campaign launched at the end of June. The campaign will now run for an additional six weeks due to additional provincial funding.

Police also launched a new extortion tip line, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 236-485-5149, with Punjabi-speaking officers available.

smoman@postmedia.com

smoman@postmedia.com