September 12, 2025
Parteek Singh Mahal
A recent Surrey Police Board meeting revealed a “dramatic” increase in extortion-related violence targeting South Asian businesses in the city. Deputy Chief Constable Michael Procyk reported that as of this week, there have been 39 reported extortion attempts in 2025, with 27 related shootings.
The Surrey Police Service has responded by increasing police presence in areas where threats have been reported. They have also met with over 700 representatives from the South Asian business community to address the issue.
Procyk noted that a significant challenge in these investigations is the high threshold for laying charges in British Columbia. Unlike most other provinces where police can directly lay charges, B.C. requires a “very robust process” through the Crown Counsel, which then makes the final decision. Procyk described this threshold as “the highest” in the country.
He explained that while this process has benefits, it can cause delays in charge approvals. At least two cases related to these extortions have been sent to the Crown, with a decision still pending.
Procyk clarified that this wave of extortion is not confined to Surrey. Similar crimes are being reported in neighboring municipalities like Langley, Delta, Richmond, New Westminster, and Abbotsford. He added that this is an inter-provincial issue, with police agencies in Alberta and Ontario having seen this trend earlier.
The Surrey Police Service’s recent public messaging campaign has encouraged more victims to come forward, which is a contributing factor to the rise in reported cases. The next Surrey Police Board meeting is scheduled for October 9.
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