November 28, 2025
Parteek Singh Mahal
In a joint announcement today in Surrey, Premier David Eby and Federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree unveiled a significant funding package totaling $5 million aimed at combating the alarming rise in extortion crimes and related gang activity across British Columbia, specifically targeting the South Asian business community.
The announcement, attended by officials from all orders of government and police leadership, addressed the mounting crisis of organized crime and the violent threats being leveled against local business owners.
The federal and provincial governments have committed $1 million in matched funding to bolster support for victims of extortion.
The Federal Government will contribute $500,000 and the BC Provincial Government will match this with another $500,000.
It was specified that these funds will be provided to the police to assist their victim support officers, enabling them to provide essential psychological and practical assistance to those impacted by these crimes.
Minister Anandasangaree openly acknowledged the public’s loss of faith in law and order, stressing that the government is treating this crisis with the utmost seriousness.
Enhanced Enforcement and Deportations
The Federal Minister provided an update on actions being taken against foreign nationals involved in extortion plots. He confirmed that the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has investigated over 350 individuals linked to these cases.
“The CBSA is currently focusing on 95 suspected individuals, 5 of whom have already been deported from Canada,” Anandasangaree stated. This move signals an acceleration in efforts to remove individuals who are exploiting temporary visa status to commit organized criminal activities on Canadian soil.
$4 Million for Integrated Gang and Drug Enforcement
To strengthen enforcement efforts, the Federal Government is separately allocating $4 million to support the Regional Integrated Drug Enforcement Team (RIDET). This funding is dedicated to enhancing the team’s capacity to target drug trafficking and gang activities operating south of the Fraser River.
Police leadership emphasized that this funding will enhance cooperation between various law enforcement agencies, including the RCMP and local police forces, providing greater resources to apprehend and dismantle organized criminal groups. Premier Eby asserted that the announcement demonstrates the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward extortion, promising strict action against perpetrators.
$1.5 Million for Youth Initiative
Recognizing the importance of addressing crime before it starts, the Government of Canada also announced $1.5 million through Public Safety Canada’s Crime Prevention Action Fund for the ‘Yo Bro Yo Girl Youth Initiative.’
This organization will launch a Youth Engagement Hub in Surrey to help divert vulnerable youth away from gangs and organized crime through programs, mentoring, employment training, and counseling for up to 1,000 young individuals.
The communities in B.C. have seen an alarming increase in violent extortion threats this year, particularly targeting Canadians of South Asian descent. This includes Surrey, where, as of last week, 101 extortion-related files and 44 “shots fired” incidents linked to extortion have been reported this year.
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