FOLLOWING a number of extortions being reported to police in Surrey, Surrey Police Service (SPS) and the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit (SPOSU) announced on Friday that they are working to advance these investigations and determine any linkages. SPS and SPOSU are also meeting regularly with other regional police agencies who have similar investigations and they are in contact with the RCMP National Coordination and Support Team (NCST), which is providing national coordination and tools to help advance extortion investigations.

SPS and SPOSU said numerous police agencies in Canada have reported that individuals or businesses from the South Asian community are contacted through a letter, phone calls or social media and demands for money are made under threats of violence. There are often indicators that criminal connections and activities extend well beyond the boundaries of the city itself.

Over the past six months, there have been 10 reports of extortion in Surrey. SPS and SPOSU are working to address these files in a comprehensive and coordinated fashion that ensures intelligence is shared and all leads and investigative avenues are pursued. Investigators are also working closely with the victims of these crimes to provide support and updates.

In addition, SPS has stood up its own Extortion Investigations Team which has dedicated resources to respond to and investigate all reported extortions in the Newton and Whalley / City Centre areas of Surrey, where SPS is currently leading police operations (SPOSU leads operations in Surrey’s other policing districts at this point in the policing transition). This team will allow SPS to respond to local incidents with investigative expertise, while also sharing intelligence and assisting policing partners in larger scale investigations. SPS has also increased patrols in a number of business areas.

SPS will attend Sunday’s public safety forum at Reflections Banquet Hall, which is being organized by individuals from Surrey’s South Asian community.

“It is critical to all of us at Surrey Police Service that we tackle this trend of extortions head on, with significant police resources and intelligence led investigative work,” said SPS Chief Constable Norm Lipinski. “It is equally important that we collaborate with the victims and the broader community so we can deal with this issue together.”

SPS and SPOSU said that as with all criminal activity, the community plays an integral role in working to improve public safety. It remains vitally important for victims to contact police and for witnesses to come forward to provide information that can advance these important investigations.

“We are concerned there may be additional victims who have complied with extortion demands or have not reported their situation to the police,” says Chief Superintendent Wendy Mehat, Officer in Charge of the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit. “We discourage anyone from responding to such demands. Officers are working to prevent these traumatizing situations and to holding those responsible to account.”

Victims of extortions should call 911 and report the incidents to Surrey Police Service. Anyone with information concerning extortions should contact our non-emergency line at 604-599-0502 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca, should they wish to remain anonymous.

MEANWHILE, Garry Begg, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, said in a statement: “We recognize the significant concern within the South Asian community regarding the ongoing extortion attempts by organized criminals.

“Recently, the Delta Police Department, with assistance from the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team and the Peel Regional Police arrested two suspects in the murder case of an individual in Brampton, who was a victim of extortion. This serves as a reminder that this is a multi-jurisdictional issue that is not just happening in Surrey and Abbotsford, but in other cities across Canada.

“Tackling organized crime and gang violence is a shared responsibility across all levels of government. At the provincial level, we continue to take action to ensure British Columbians are safe from organized crime with more than $100 million allocated annually into specialized enforcement and intelligence programs targeting guns, gangs and illicit drug activities.  At the national level, the federal RCMP established a National Coordination and Support team to work with police in B.C. and other provinces as well as international partners to coordinate efforts in these ongoing investigations.

“I cannot stress enough the importance of reporting any threats or extortion attempts to the police immediately. This information from the community is crucial for police for these complex investigations.  Support for victims is available, so please reach out to your local police if you or someone that you know is or has been extorted”

“As this is an active and ongoing investigation, specific questions should be directed to the police. I take this matter extremely seriously, and I will personally attend Sunday’s community meeting to hear residents’ concerns firsthand and support police efforts in addressing this decisively.”