Vancouver: Canadian authorities have deported three foreign nationals believed to be connected to an organized extortion ring that has been terrorizing Punjabi-origin business owners across British Columbia, Canada.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) confirmed on Thursday that the deportations followed a months-long investigation carried out under the B.C. Extortion Task Force, a multi-agency unit formed earlier this year in response to a growing wave of threats and violence against local business operators.
The task force—comprising officers from the CBSA, the RCMP, and several municipal police departments—was established to share intelligence and coordinate enforcement against transnational crime groups believed to be orchestrating the extortion campaign.
“This is an important development in our broader efforts to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks exploiting our communities,” a CBSA spokesperson said in a statement.
Authorities did not reveal the identities, countries of origin, or current whereabouts of the deported individuals, citing privacy laws and the need to protect ongoing investigations. However, law enforcement sources familiar with the case indicated that many of those involved, both as victims and as suspects, share roots in the Punjabi community.
Investigators say roughly 78 additional foreign nationals remain under immigration review for possible inadmissibility, with several suspected of having ties to the same criminal operations.
The extortion scheme—first detected late last year—has rapidly escalated in 2025. Business owners, particularly in Surrey, the Fraser Valley, and the Lower Mainland, have reported receiving threats demanding cryptocurrency payments. In several cases, noncompliance allegedly led to property damage, including arson attacks. One business, Kap’s Café in Surrey, has reportedly been targeted multiple times.
Police believe the perpetrators are using social media platforms and encrypted messaging apps to communicate their demands, often employing intimidation tactics to coerce victims into paying.
Officials say the recent deportations mark a significant milestone for the task force, but they caution that the broader criminal network remains active. “These removals send a clear message,” the CBSA spokesperson added. “Canada will not tolerate organized crime or intimidation of its business communities.”
Authorities continue to urge affected business owners to report threats and suspicious activity as efforts intensify to root out those responsible for the coordinated campaign of fear and extortion across B.C.
