SURREY – The Province, B.C. RCMP and municipal police agencies are launching a specialized task force to strengthen investigations into the extortion threats targeting families and businesses in the South Asian community.

“The Province is standing up a new provincial task force that builds on the ongoing work of existing joint forces operations and brings in new partners under a single command structure led by the RCMP,” said Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “This comprehensive approach will expand cross-jurisdictional reach, supporting co-ordinated investigations to bring criminals threatening and perpetrating violence in our communities to justice.”

The extortion task force will consist of 40 members drawn from various policing agencies, including the B.C. RCMP, Abbotsford Police Department, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit – B.C. (CFSEU-BC), Delta Police Department, Metro Vancouver Transit Police, Surrey Police Service and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The task force will receive support from the federal RCMP National Co-ordination and Support Team (NCST), which offers co-ordination and information sharing on extortion cases with law-enforcement agencies in affected provinces including B.C., Alberta and Ontario.

Led by the B.C. RCMP, the task force will stand apart from existing units due to its diverse membership and provincewide mandate, with its primary focus on co-ordination efforts in targeting organized-crime activity involved in extortion-related threats. 

“The B.C. RCMP is committed to advancing the investigative efforts taken to date and enhancing the co-ordination and collaboration of the joint forces operation,” said John Brewer, assistant commissioner, B.C. RCMP. “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.”

The Province is also making $200,000 available through the federal government’s Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund (GGVAF) to help municipal police departments investigate extortion cases. The funding will assist municipal police operations in their community-driven efforts to disrupt and investigate extortion-related matters. These investments are in addition to more than $100 million the Province commits annually to anti-gang enforcement and intelligence programs that target and disrupt organized crime, gang activity, illegal guns and the drug trade.

To sustain public-education efforts, the Province has provided an additional $100,000 from the GGVAF to continue the B.C. Crime Stoppers public-awareness campaign encouraging people to report extortion threats to help police identify and stop those responsible. This additional funding will support six more weeks of the campaign, helping individuals, families and business owners stay informed and safe.

Quick Facts:

• The B.C. Crime Stoppers extortion public-awareness campaign was developed in consultation with individuals with a deep knowledge of extortion, experience in policing, and lived experience within the South Asian community.
• The campaign will be available in English and Punjabi and will feature radio, digital-media and SkyTrain advertisements.
• From June 25, 2025, until Sept. 5, 2025, the campaign generated more than 4.7 million views, and police have reported an increase in phone calls related to extortion attempts.

Learn More:

To watch the 30-second campaign in Punjabi, visit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PCzPvE801NE1utwarto7y2etxtojVAdG/view

To learn more about government’s action to combat serious and organized crime, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024PSSG0040-000714

Victims and their immediate family members may be eligible for benefits to support their recovery through the ministry’s Crime Victim Assistance Program: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/bcs-criminal-justice-system/if-you-are-a-victim-of-a-crime/victim-of-crime/financial-assistance-benefits

To locate a victim-services program in your community, contact VictimLinkBC: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/victims-of-crime/victimlinkbc

Manny Mann, assistant commissioner and chief officer, CFSEU-BC and Organized Crime Agency of B.C. –

“CFSEU-BC has contributed resources towards this task force focused on the extortions that threaten public safety. CFSEU-BC aims to support our policing partners, hold those responsible accountable and help restore safety for families and businesses.”

Colin Watson, chief constable, Abbotsford Police Department – 

“The Abbotsford Police Department recognizes that a unified response is essential in confronting the serious threat posed by these extortion events. We are deeply grateful for the collaborative efforts of our law-enforcement partners and the financial support of the province, which enable us to move forward together into this next phase of our response. This initiative enhances the responses to this point and reflects our shared commitment to community safety, and underscores the power of working collectively to protect and support those impacted.”

Harj Sidhu, chief constable, Delta Police Department –

“The creation of this task force is an important step in addressing the extortion threats impacting the South Asian community, building on the investigations already underway. The Delta Police Department is committed to working alongside our policing partners, government and community members to confront these crimes. We urge anyone receiving threats to report them so we can investigate and help keep families and businesses safe.”

Norm Lipinski, chief constable, Surrey Police Service –

“It is critical that we act together to address this most pressing issue of extortions and the associated violence that are plaguing many communities in B.C. This means working not only with our policing partners, but with government and community members. This provincial task force and additional funding will enhance collaboration and police resources as we continue to tackle these complex priority files.”

Suzanne Muir, chief officer, Metro Vancouver Transit Police –

“Working closely with our municipal policing partners on a daily basis, we recognize that regional public-safety issues require a regional response. Extortion is a serious issue impacting our communities, and Metro Vancouver Transit Police is dedicated to supporting this important community-driven work alongside the task force, local police and community partners.”

Nina Patel, regional director general, Pacific Region, CBSA –

“Canada Border Services Agency officers and investigators work alongside law-enforcement partners to prevent, detect and disrupt organized crime. This new task force will help protect B.C. communities from criminal activity by enhancing intelligence-sharing and co-ordinating joint operations.”

Adam MacIntosh, superintendent, RCMP Federal Policing, NCST –

“The National Co-ordination and Support Team (NCST), representing the RCMP in Federal Policing, applauds this important advancement in collaboration between the Province of British Columbia and its multiple police agencies. This commitment, backed by provincial funding, strengthens efforts to combat a pervasive public-safety issue in B.C. and across Canada, and the NCST will continue to provide local, national and international support to our policing partners.”

Gill Millam, executive director, B.C. Crime Stoppers – 

“The additional funding by the provincial government will enable B.C. Crime Stoppers to continue this campaign. This will be achieved by running dual-language advertisements on radio, utilizing billboards at SkyTrain stations and maintaining broadcasts on selected digital channels. The expanded campaign aims to reach communities most affected by extortion, particularly in Metro Vancouver and Surrey, through targeted radio spots and billboard placements.”

Amna Shah, MLA for Surrey-City Centre –

“I have heard from community members about the impact these threats can have. This task force sends a firm message: Our community deserves to feel safe, supported and protected. This task force will help bring justice to those affected by extortion, and rebuild trust and peace of mind for families and businesses across Surrey.”