Surrey, B.C., police launch team to counter extortions in South Asian community
SURREY - A series of reports of extortion from people and businesses in the South Asian community has prompted a wider investigation by police in Surrey, B.C.
The Surrey Police Service says in a statement that it is working with provincial and national RCMP to help in their investigations, as numerous Canadian police agencies have reported similar crimes.
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The Province
11 hours ago
- The Province
Surrey police vow to tackle extortion threats 'head on'
A public safety forum at Reflections Banquet Hall in Surrey is planned for Sunday at 2 p.m. The murder of businessman Satwinder Sharma at his Fleetwood office on June 11 has many in Surrey's South Asian community on edge. Homicide investigators believe the shooting was targeted, but are not linking it to an extortion scheme that has been ongoing for more than two years. Photo by Shane MacKichan Concerned that not all victims of an extortion scheme targeting members of B.C.'s South Asian community have come forward, Surrey police are urging anyone who has received threats to contact them. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors 'It is critical to all of us … that we tackle this trend of extortions head on, with significant police resources and intelligence-led investigative work,' Surrey Police Service Chief Norm Lipinski said Friday. 'It is equally important that we collaborate with the victims and the broader community so we can deal with this issue together.' The extortion scheme, which has been reported in cities across Canada, often involves a letter, phone call or social media message demanding money and threatening violence. The person often references criminal connections and activities outside Surrey, said police. Over the past six month, there have been 10 reports of extortion attempts in Surrey. But the scheme goes back farther than that, with threats and drive-by shootings first reported in B.C. in 2023. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The murder of businessman Satwinder Sharma at his Fleetwood office on Wednesday afternoon has heightened tensions even more. Homicide investigators believe the shooting was targeted, and have not linked it to the extortion scheme. Satish Kumar, another Surrey businessman whose banquet hall was shot at earlier this week after he received a threatening phone call, is helping to organize a public safety forum at Reflections Banquet Hall on Sunday. He said it is important not to give in or the demands will escalate. 'I'm not afraid. The maximum they can do is kill me. I'm ready for that shot, and my family is ready for that shot. What happens, happens. You die one time, what are you going to do?' he told Postmedia on Thursday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Surrey Police will be at the forum, which starts at 2 p.m. They said investigators are working with the RCMP and other regional police agencies with similar investigations and remain in contact with the RCMP national coordination and support team. Surrey Police also has its own extortion investigation team to respond to all reported extortion attempts in parts of Surrey where SPS is leading operations during the police transition. They have also stepped up patrols in business areas. RCMP Chief Supt. Wendy Mehat, the officer in charge of Surrey RCMP during the transition, said police are worried there could be other victims who may have complied with extortion demands. 'We discourage anyone from responding to such demands. Officers are working to prevent these traumatizing situations and to hold those responsible to account,' she said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Police at the scene of a shooting at an office building in Fleetwood on Wednesday. Photo by Shane MacKichan Surrey journalist Gurpreet Sahota said he has learned that two people came into Sharma's office on the second floor of an office complex near 84 Avenue and 160 Street under the pretence of seeking work. Police responded to an emergency call about a shooting at 3:45 p.m. They found Sharma suffering from life-threatening injuries. He died at the scene. The office complex houses 15 businesses, including a hair salon, dentist and travel agency. Staff in some of the other offices hid under their desks after hearing gunshots. Sahota said he had spoke to a friend of Sharma who confirmed the businessman had been the target of an extortion attempt two years ago, but believed the shooting might not be related. 'Everybody is scared, especially people with money,' Sahota told Postmedia on Thursday. 'It feels like nobody is listening or taking these issues seriously.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A police car outside the Abbotsford home of Satwinder Sharma. The businessman was shot to death at his office in Surrey on Wednesday. Photo by Glenda Luymes Sharma was involved in several B.C. businesses, including Dynamic WorkForce, which claims to be B.C.'s largest provider of farm labour. B.C. employment records show the company is authorized to hire more than 300 employees as a farm labour contractor. In 2024, Sharma was honoured at the South Asian Construction Excellence Awards as best builder of the year in the single-family home category. The company's website says it has completed projects in Maple Ridge, South Surrey, Coquitlam and Mission. Court records also show Sharma was once part-owner of a B.C. sawmill. On Thursday, a police car was parked outside his family's estate in Abbotsford. At one point, dozens of guests arrived, parking at the side of the quiet rural road. Signs on the black wrought-iron gate warned that the premises was protected by video surveillance. Reached by phone, family members declined to speak to Postmedia. gluymes@ Read More Vancouver Canucks Sports Sports Soccer News
CBC
11 hours ago
- CBC
4 youth charged with arson after fire in Taloyoak, Nunavut
RCMP in Taloyoak, Nunavut, have charged four girls with arson in connection to a fire at the community's old home economics building. In a news release Friday afternoon, RCMP said officers responded to a complaint at about 6:35 p.m. on June 8 that the building was on fire. The Taloyoak Fire Department arrived on scene to extinguish the fire and prevented it from spreading to nearby buildings. After an investigation, police say they charged four girls, aged 12 to 14. No injuries were reported. RCMP thanked community members who helped provide officers with critical information and encouraged parents to speak with children about the dangers of playing with matches and lighters.
CBC
12 hours ago
- CBC
Surrey, B.C., police launch team to counter extortions in South Asian community
Social Sharing A series of reports of extortion from people and businesses in the South Asian community have prompted a wider investigation by police in Surrey, B.C. The Surrey Police Service said in a statement that it is working with provincial and national RCMP to help in their investigations, as numerous Canadian police agencies have reported similar crimes. Police said they've had 10 complaints over the last six months of people getting letters, phone calls or social media messages demanding money under threats of violence. The service said it has launched its own extortion investigations team and will be attending a public safety forum on Sunday in the city organized by members of the South Asian community. It's to be held at Reflections banquet hall on 152A Street at 2 p.m. Forum organizer Satish Kumar, the president of the city's Lakshmi Narayan Mandir temple, is also announcing a $100,000 reward to encourage the community to help bring an end to the extortion and violence. WATCH | Surrey police investigating after shootings targeted at businesses: Surrey police investigating possible extortion attempt after shootings targeted at businesses 2 days ago Duration 2:09 Police in Surrey say they are investigating whether two shootings targeting businesses in the city are linked to possible extortion attempts. As Sohrab Sandhu reports, it comes just months after several incidents across the country, which led to the formation of a national RCMP task force. "I'm requesting the community [to] come forward," he told CBC News. "Don't be scared of these guys, right? They don't want to kill you. They want only money from you guys." Kumar said two recent shootings at his businesses are connected to ongoing extortion attempts targeting the South Asian community. He said he received video voicemails on May 28 from numbers listed as being from Italy and New Zealand that demanded $2 million. He said he refused to pay and reported it to police at the time, but officials took no action. In the early hours of June 7, shots were fired at Reflections banquet hall, which he owns, he said. Shots were fired, he said, at another business he's connected to, Hub Insurance, on Tuesday. No one was injured in the shootings at the businesses. Extortion threats emerged last year and violence that followed included arsons and shootings, which police in Ontario, Alberta and B.C. said were linked to organized crime in the Indian state of Punjab. Surrey police Chief Norm Lipinski said it's important to tackle the extortion trend head-on, but it's equally important to collaborate with victims and the broader community to deal with it together. RCMP Chief Supt. Wendy Mehat, with the Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit, said they are concerned there may be more victims who have complied with demands and haven't gone to police.
