Three young men, Harjot Singh, Taranveer Singh, and Dayajeet Singh Billing, found themselves in court Thursday morning following their arrest in connection with an extortion-related crime. The trio, aged between 19 and 21, had their full court appearance delayed by a week upon the request of their defense lawyer. They have been in custody since their arrest by the anti-extortion control unit after shots were fired at a residence. Each individual faces a charge of discharging a firearm.
This recent arrest is part of a larger issue in Surrey, with authorities reporting 46 extortion cases under investigation this year alone. The British Columbia Extortion Task Force revealed 32 active cases across the Lower Mainland last month. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has been actively seeking federal assistance to combat extortion-related crimes in the region, advocating for amendments to prevent those charged with such crimes from seeking asylum in Canada. The Canada Border Services Agency has noted that 15 foreigners facing extortion charges have applied for refugee status in Canada, with an ongoing investigation into the immigration status of the three individuals charged in the recent incident.