B.C.’s anti-extortion task force has made significant progress, with seven suspects facing criminal charges after four months of investigation.
During a recent update, the B.C. RCMP revealed that the task force, in collaboration with the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), is looking into 111 foreign nationals suspected of offences under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. These individuals, currently residing in Canada under refugee status, are not immune to legal consequences, emphasized RCMP Assistant Commissioner John Brewer.
The task force is actively pursuing 32 separate cases throughout the province, having obtained nearly 100 judicial authorizations and executed multiple search warrants in the Lower Mainland. In addition to the seven charged suspects, local police units have also been successful in securing charges in numerous investigations conducted over the past year.
Brewer highlighted the seriousness with which law enforcement agencies are addressing the extortion threats, emphasizing the collaborative efforts to combat multiple groups engaged in such criminal activities. The task force comprises 40 members from various agencies, working diligently to gather evidence and bring perpetrators to justice.
Just before the update, the Surrey Police Service reported an extortion-related shooting incident in Newton neighborhood, marking the 35th publicly known extortion case in Surrey in the new year. These incidents have targeted 21 victims and led to reports of gunfire.
The task force, established in response to escalating extortion threats, remains dedicated to thorough investigations, having accumulated a vast amount of evidence and surveillance footage in their pursuit of justice.