RCMP forms national team in response to extortion schemes

TheRCMPsays it has established anationalteamtohelpco-ordinate investigations and information sharing about extortion schemestargeting South Asian businessesinB.C., Alberta and Ontario.

Mounties say theteamis a "nationwide alliance"of police agencies that are all investigatingextortionand violent threats, which have been tiedtoshootings and arson.

TheRCMPsays theteamis not taking over any investigations, but rather providing supporttofacilitate "seamless" information-sharing at anationallevel between forces including Peel Regional Police, SurreyRCMPand the Edmonton Police Service.

RCMPSupt. Adam MacIntosh, the team's leader, says it's looking into "all similarities and motivations" behind theextortionthreats, which are reportedly tiedtoorganized crime groups.

Peel Regional Police formed a task force to investigate extortion incidents in Ontario in December, and the Edmonton Police Service is looking into 34 casesina probe known as "Project Gaslight."

B.C. Public Safety Mike Farnworth says he welcomes the news of thenationalteam's formation, calling it an "important step forwardincombating organized crime andextortionattemptsinour communities."

WATCH | Extortion ring targets South Asian businesses across Canada, police say:

Extortion ring targets South Asian businesses across Canada, police say

7 months ago

Duration 2:06

There are growing concerns about reports of South Asian businesses being targeted with violence and extortion across the country. Police and political officials in Ontario, Alberta and B.C., say they're investigating similar acts, while Edmonton police say incidents in their city have been orchestrated by a criminal network in India.

Extortionthreats have been reportedinseveral B.C. cities, including West Vancouver, White Rock, Abbotsford and Surrey through physical letters and phone calls and over social media apps.

Police say the extortionists demand "protection money" from would-be victims, most of whom are members of the South Asian business community.

Some have seen their businesses targeted with gunfire after refusingtopay up.

InOntario, police arrested a 23-year-old man from Abbotsford, B.C., on Dec. 8, 2023, in connection with extortion threats that they say have "caused grave safety and security concerns among our community members."

Edmonton police saidinJanuary that theymade six arrests tiedtoextortionthreats, shootings and arsons.

SurreyRCMPmade two arrestsinlate December 2023inconnection withextortionthreatsinthe B.C. city, but the pair were released pending charge approval by Crown prosecutors.