Surrey: The Canadian government has announced fresh security measures to address a growing wave of extortion-related crimes in Surrey and surrounding areas of British Columbia’s Lower Mainland, describing the situation as intolerable and demanding immediate action.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said the federal government would increase police presence and deploy additional resources to help local authorities confront the escalating threat. Calling the rise in extortion incidents “unacceptable,” the minister said coordinated efforts across federal, provincial and municipal agencies are essential to dismantle the criminal networks behind the violence and intimidation.
As part of the move, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will deploy up to 20 additional officers to support the BC Extortion Task Force and local police units. The RCMP will also provide helicopter support to assist operations in Surrey, strengthening aerial surveillance, rapid response capabilities and investigative work amid the surge in cases.
The announcement follows Surrey’s declaration of an extortion crisis as a national emergency, amid mounting concerns over public safety. According to police data, extortion reports in the city have risen sharply in early 2026. By late January, authorities had recorded about 35 suspected cases in just the first three weeks of the year, including several targeted shootings. Police say at least eight shootings linked to extortion had been confirmed by mid-month.
Officials warned that if the current pace continues, the number of cases could exceed 600 by the end of the year — a dramatic jump from the 132 extortion attempts reported throughout 2025, nearly half of which involved gunfire.
Federal authorities said the latest deployment builds on earlier commitments, including $4 million announced in November 2025 to reinforce the Regional Integrated Drug Enforcement Team and an additional $1 million allocated to support victims of extortion in partnership with the British Columbia government. The RCMP is also expected to convene senior police leaders to sharpen enforcement strategies and improve intelligence sharing.
The measures come after a series of high-level discussions involving Minister Anandasangaree, British Columbia Premier David Eby, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, Canada Border Services Agency President Erin O’Gorman and BC Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger. The federal government reiterated its broader public safety agenda, which includes tougher bail and sentencing reforms, enhanced border security, and plans to recruit 1,000 new RCMP officers and 1,000 additional CBSA personnel nationwide.
The extortion spike, which began around June 2025, has largely targeted individuals and businesses in predominantly South Asian communities across Surrey and the Lower Mainland. Investigators say the crimes are often linked to transnational organised groups, with threats delivered through phone calls, text messages, social media or letters. These demands are frequently reinforced by acts of violence such as shootings, arson attacks or threats against family members.
Local leaders, including Surrey’s mayor, have repeatedly called for stronger federal intervention, citing cross-border criminal links and gaps in enforcement as key drivers of the crisis.
