Surrey’s extortion crisis grows, fueled from afar by the Indian government 

For many business owners in Surrey, running a shop has meant think about more than profits, it’s meant thinking about how to stay safe. From installing extra cameras to working shorter hours and hiring cautious staff, owners say the rise in extortion has changed how they run their businesses. Leaving fear as a constant, unspoken part of daily operations.

Surrey’s business community is facing an unexpected wave of extortion, particularly among south Asian owned shops. Over the past few years, police have recorded dozens of cases each year, with threats ranging from phone calls and messages to vandalism and shootings. Authorities believe some incidents involve international criminal networks, while local criminals imitate their tactics. The rising number of incidents has forced business owners to rethink daily operations, invest in security, and sometimes stay silent for fear of retaliation, highlighting both the human and economic toll of crisis.  

Over the past year, the number of incidents linked to extortion in Surrey has tripled compared to neighbouring cities like delta and Abbotsford having 5 and 28 suspected extortion cases respectively while Surrey has 81 suspected extortion cases. The federal police think the crime is linked to Indian agents and inspired copycats and local criminals.  

The extortion crisis in Surrey started to rise in late 2023 when shots were fired at Payal business centre. Nobody was injured but multiple business were targeted. The owners were hesitant to come forward after receiving threats. 

An internal document circulated within the RCMP last year identified the Bishnol Crime Group as carrying out a series of crimes in Canada, including extortion, while acting on behalf of the Indian government, which is concerned about support for Sikh separatism in the South Asian community in Canada. 

After the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023, Canadian officials pointed the finger at the Indian government. “Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in the House of Commons.  

The RCMP put out a statement in 2024 that there was an ongoing campaign of criminal activity orchestrated by the Indian government that in part sought to use “organize crime to create a perception of an unsafe environment targeting the South Asian Community in Canada.” 

 In early 2024 a large community event was organized as hundreds of people gathered mainly from the south Asian community came together to address the extortion problem. Many people there were scared for their families and business. The event organizers told CBC news more south Asian business are being targeted every month and the number of people in the south Asian community reporting threats is more than anyone expected. 

The police say the pattern resembles an extortion scheme the is used in parts of India within the past decade. In recent years some these tactics have inspired copycats and local gangs. The RCMP has formed a specialized team to investigate these cases, but the lack of cooperation from frightened victims makes the work harder.  

Authorities have encouraged victims to report extortion attempts, stressing that silence allows the crime to spread. However, many business owners remain hesitant. Some fear retaliation, while others worry about being publicly identified. As a result, police believe the true number of extortion cases is likely much higher than official statistics suggest.  

The government hasn’t made a major law yet, but the surrey RCMP announced they were launching a specific task force that will be handling extortion and shooting cases.  

For many Surrey business owners, extortion has become another obstacle layered onto an already difficult economic landscape. Rising rent, inflation, staffing shortage, and supply costs were already putting pressure on small business. Now personal safety has become part of the calculation. Owners say the stress affects not just their finances, but their mental health and sense of security and now their personal safety has become part of the equation.  

In the most recent city hall meeting, the community expressed their concerns for there for their family’s and neighbourhood safety and lack progress when it comes to arrest and charges for extortion. Surrey RCMP told the council they were working with federal authorities to investigate lines to organized crime and possible foreign involvements, while city leaders promised increased communication and support for affected businesses. Still, some residents left frustrated, saying promises alone would not protect shop owners who open their doors each morning unsure if they will be targeted next according to CBC news. 

On January 7^th Surrey and Delta homes were a target of an overnight extortion related shootings just hours apart.  

“It’s obvious that the people perpetrating this place no value on human life if they are willing to indiscriminately fire bullets at a house,” Surrey Police Service spokesperson Tige Pollock told CTV News. “It’s dangerous.”  

As RCMP investigations continue, business/homeowners across Surrey are left wondering how long they must live in fear and whether the next threat will be one they can no longer ignore. 

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