BC government to announce action against extortion threats targeting South Asian businesses

June 25, 2025

Pooja Sekhon

Surrey, BC – BC’s Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Garry Begg is expected to make an announcement Thursday about action to address extortion threats against the South Asian community. The media briefing is expected to start at 1:30 pm at Surrey Police Service HQ. Gillian Millam, executive director of BC Crime Stoppers, will join Minister Begg for the announcement.

According to SPS, there have been 10 extortion reports in the city over the past six months. SPS Chief Const. Norm Lipinski said that the department has launched its own dedicated extortion investigations team to focus on cases in the Newton and Whalley areas while also increasing patrols in a number of business areas in the city. 

Lipinski says officers are encouraging people to report extortion. “We know that some of these extortions are under-reported … I understand there’s fear but you can also report it anonymously.”

Many members of the South Asian business community organized a forum this month when numerous businesses received extortion calls. The attendees called for urgent action from all levels of government over a growing trend of extortion and violence against members of the South Asian community in Canada. The event brought together business owners, police and elected officials to discuss the ongoing rise in threats and violence.

Earlier this month, and less than a week before the forum, an Abbotsford man was shot and killed at his office in Surrey. Police say the motive is still under investigation but the incident does not appear to be linked to any ongoing investigations. No arrests have been made. 

The ongoing spate of extortion attempts targeting South Asian business owners led the RCMP to form a national task force last year to deal with the issue, which have also been reported in Alberta and the Greater Toronto Area.

According to SPS, it’s a similar story across Canada. Businesses from the South Asian community are contacted through a letter, phone call or social media and asked to give large sums of money under the threat of violence.