Police have launched a major investigation into a series of extortion incidents targeting South Asian residents and businesses in the British Columbia city of Surrey.
Surrey police said 10 cases of extortion have been reported in the city in the past six months and they have set up dedicated teams to tackle extortion in the city’s Newton and Worley City Centre areas, as well as increased patrols in several commercial districts.
Extortion attacks targeting South Asian residents and businesses are not just occurring in Surrey, but across Canada. Reports of people coming in via letters, phone calls and social media have included threats of violence and demands for money. Police believe the crimes may have links across regions.
In response to this situation, a public safety forum organized by South Asian residents in Surrey will be held on June 15th. Organizer Satish Kumar, chairman of the Lakshmi Narayan Temple in Surrey, told CBC News, “There is no need to be afraid of them (the perpetrators). They don’t want to kill us, they want money.” He said he has been the victim of such blackmail, and that shots were fired at a banquet hall he owns and at the building of an insurance company he is involved with.
Police said, “We are very concerned that there may be other victims who have responded to the blackmail or have not reported the crime to the police,” and urged people to never give in to the perpetrator’s demands, to report the crime to the police, and for witnesses to come forward with information.