Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger says an RCMP-led provincial police task force has been set up "solely dedicated" to tackling the extortion crisis plaguing South Asian businesses in Surrey and elsewhere in B.C.
Krieger, also the solicitor general, made the announcement Wednesday in Surrey.
"A diverse membership and province-wide mandate to target organized crime-related extortion threats in B.C. sets this task force apart from existing units," she said. "It will build on the ongoing work of existing joint-forces operations bringing in new policing partners under a single command structure expanding its cross-jurisdictional reach."
Surrey has recorded 45 related complaints so far in 2025, but police did not reveal how many there have been province-wide.
Krieger described the move as a "comprehensive and coordinated approach" involving 40 police officers from throughout B.C., including 10 from Lower Mainland RCMP detachments, 12 from the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, two from the Surrey Police Service, two from the Abbotsford Police, one from the Delta Police, one from the Canadian Border Services Agency, one from the Metro Vancouver Transit Police, and support staff.
She added the government has made $200,000 available through a federal gun and gang violence action fund to support municipal police departments to combat extortion threats in their communities "not within the scope of the new task force," and $100,000 to continue a related CrimeStoppers campaign.
Earlier this week the City of Surrey set up a $250,000 reward fund for information leading to convictions in the extortion cases known to date, as extortion-related crimes continue to surge in the South Asian community.
Mayor Brenda Locke says the fund, which can be split up, is one of the largest in Canadian history. It was announced at a press conference on Monday, Sept. 15 at Surrey City Hall.
Assistant Commissioner John Brewer, BC RCMP said the expanded team brings in more resources, intelligence analyst and tactical skills aimed at "pursuing and holding those responsible for the violence, intimidation and fear accountable."
