July 3, 2025
Parteek Singh Mahal
SURREY, B.C. – RCMP has arrested two individuals in connection with an extensive, ongoing extortion investigation across the Lower Mainland.
The probe, managed by a Joint Force Operation (JFO), began in 2024 and has focused on a series of targeted financial extortions primarily impacting members of the South Asian business community.
RCMP in a statement said that on July 3, the two suspects, who were already under investigation for extortion, were arrested for careless discharge of a firearm and arson. These charges are linked to incidents that occurred in Surrey, B.C., in 2024.
Since late 2023, police agencies throughout the Lower Mainland have been grappling with a surge in extortion reports. Victims have consistently reported receiving threats demanding substantial sums of money. When these demands were not met, acts of violence or property damage often followed.
“These arrests are reflective of a shared commitment amongst law enforcement to coordinate efforts, leverage regional resources, and gather the necessary evidence to pursue criminal charges,” stated Chief Superintendent Duncan Pound, Lower Mainland District Assistant District Commander and Operations Officer.
He acknowledged that “these investigations take time and for strategic investigative reasons, details of the coordinated policing efforts have not been shared publicly.” Chief Superintendent Pound reassured the public that “police agencies across the Lower Mainland are prioritizing these investigations and are committed to working together and with communities to hold those responsible, accountable.”
In January 2025, a JFO spearheaded by the RCMP Lower Mainland District was established. This specialized unit brings together expertise from various police agencies, including the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit, Abbotsford Police Department, RCMP Federal Policing – Pacific Region, and the BC RCMP Major Crime Section.
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