September 17, 2025
Parteek Singh Mahal
In a direct response to a surge in extortion threats and related violence, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger announced the formation of a new 40-member task force aimed at dismantling organized crime activities primarily targeting British Columbia’s South Asian community.
The multi-agency task force, led by the BC RCMP, will include members from various law enforcement bodies to enhance its effectiveness in investigating complex organized crime networks. The unit will include 10 BC RCMP officers, 12 members from the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC), two officers each from the Surrey Police Service, Abbotsford Police Department, and Delta Police Department, two from the Canadian Border Services Agency, and one from the Transit Police.
In addition to the new task force, the province is providing $200,000 from the federal Gun and Gang Violence Fund to support the unit’s investigative efforts. A separate $100,000 has been allocated to Crime Stoppers BC for a public awareness campaign designed to encourage community members to come forward with information.
The announcement comes amidst a worrying trend of extortion cases in the Lower Mainland, particularly in Surrey, where numerous residents and business owners have been targeted with threats of violence, often accompanied by shootings. This criminal activity, which has been described as a “transnational” issue, has created a climate of fear, leading to calls for a more robust law enforcement response.
The issue has gained significant public attention and prompted action from various levels of government. Earlier this week, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke and the Surrey Police Service announced a $250,000 reward fund, dubbed a “tip line,” for information leading to convictions in these cases.
While there has been no arrest related to extortion cases in Surrey out of total 44 active files, the RCMP without disclosing the total number of active extortion related files in province disclosed that there have been six arrests this year, so far.
When RED FM asked that if province have any plan to lower down the threshold for imposing charges in gang violence and extortion related cases, minister Krieger said the Task Force will be more focused on investigating part and the crown works independently on the cases.
However, when asked whether Task Force will follow leads outside of Canada specifically regarding India-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang, the officials failed to give strong response.
Political leaders across Canada have increasingly called for the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to be designated as a terrorist organization. This includes British Columbia Premier David Eby, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, and federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. They argue that the gang’s activities, particularly in British Columbia, have been a form of “economic terrorism” that is terrifying the South Asian community
At the press conference, Minister Krieger also condemned the actions of the criminal organizations and the fear they are instilling in the community. She also took the opportunity to appreciate the tip line and reward fund announced by Surrey Mayor Locke and SPS, stating that a more centralized, coordinated approach is required.
Assistant Commissioner John Brewer emphasized the complexity of the investigations and the need for a collaborative approach. “This is a significant amount of work,” Brewer said, adding that “in order for these investigations to be successful, we are doing everything to do investigations.” The formation of this integrated task force is seen as a crucial step in pooling resources and expertise to effectively combat these criminal networks.
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