A brief explanation of the BC extortion crisis

Extortion-related shootings came into the forefront again this week after RCMP Assistant Commissioner John Brewer was forced to apologize after saying the situation wasn’t a “crisis.”

More than 30 extortion reports have been received by Surrey police so far this year, with many in the South asian community saying it’s not a matter of if, but when they’ll be targeted.

So when did it begin?

Publicly, the extortion issue became known in the fall of 2023. 

Abbotsford Police Department said it has had a report of multiple businesses receiving the same letter requesting money in exchange for protection from future violence.

At the same time, Edmonton police released information about an extortion scheme targeting South Asian homebuilders, with arson and gunshots.

Surrey police issued a public warning saying multiple businesses had been targeted, but owners were reluctant to come forward.

Across the country in Ontario, police noticed a spate of extortion-related incidents in the Toronto area.

Throughout 2024, the violence continued, targeting the South Asian community in the Lower Mainland.

The threats came in the form of letters, phone calls, text messages or on social media and victims relayed the same story, whereby they’d received phone calls asking for $1M and later have homes and businesses shot at.

Who’s behind it?

In October 2024, the RCMP said it had strong evidence showing the “highest levels” of the Indian government were involved in orchestrating a campaign of violence and intimidation on Canadian soil.

But why would India want to do that?

CBC Journalist Even Dyer told the Front Burner podcast that India has for years had issues with the idea of Sikh separatists creating a separate Sikh homeland in Punjab. While Sikh independence isn’t an issue in India, the diaspora in Canada has pushed for it. Creating chaos in other countries gives the Indian government some influence over the movement.

The Bishnoi gang have also become synonymous with the extortion crisis, and although its leader is in jail in India, it’s been said it’s being used as a proxy for the Indian government.

The Bishnoi gang deny this and says people use its name for notoriety, and it’s thought that it’s likely both kinds going on.

Who is being targeted?

Largely the South Asian community but Delta Police Board member Sharan Oberoi recently said extortion-related crimes could eventually spread into the broader community.

And there have been brazen attacks. The Swift radio station was shot at last year, not long after the chief of Surrey Police had been there giving an interview. Last fall the Law Society of BC said there had been incidents in which lawyers had been threatened. 

Has anyone been hurt?

Surprisingly, for the amount of violence that takes place, there have been relatively few injuries. Last October, a Surrey woman was hospitalized after her home was shot at at 3 a.m.

And there have been plenty of near misses. The Swift radio station was shot at last year, not long after the chief of Surrey Police had been there giving an interview.

What’s the government doing about it?

In September 2025, the BC government set up the BC Extortion Task Force. By Jan. 17 it had taken control of 32 files across the Lower Mainland. Last week it announced it had ‘7 charged, 9 expelled, 111 facing immigration investigations.”

That same month, the City of Surrey put up a $250,000 reward fund for information leading to convictions in the ongoing extortion crisis.