Canada Extortion Crackdown Hits South Asian Communities

CBSA probes 296 foreign nationals in B.C.’s violent extortion surge targeting South Asian communities.

The extortion mess hitting Canada’s South Asian communities just got a bigger spotlight, especially in British Columbia. Immigration officers from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) are now digging into hundreds of cases tied to the B.C. Extortion Task Force. As of early February 2026, that number sits at 296 foreign nationals under investigation for potential inadmissibility. That’s almost triple what it was just a month earlier, when it hovered around 100.

This all stems from a nasty wave of extortion that’s been terrorizing folks, mostly in places like Surrey, Abbotsford, and Delta in the Lower Mainland. We’re talking threats, demands for cash, and way too many shootings or arsons at businesses and homes. The targets are often business owners and families in South Asian communities, with gangs sometimes linked to groups like the Lawrence Bishnoi syndicate out of India (which Canada labeled a terrorist entity back in 2025).

The task force kicked off in September 2025, led by the RCMP and pulling in about 40 folks from agencies like CBSA, local police in Surrey, Delta, Abbotsford, and others. It’s a big coordinated push to share intel, get warrants, make arrests, and push out people who shouldn’t be here. CBSA’s role is key since many suspects are foreign nationals, often on expired visas, student permits, or other temporary status, and some have ties across borders into Alberta and Ontario.

Here’s the latest data breakdown from CBSA and task force updates:

• 296 active immigration investigations into foreign nationals flagged by the task force (as of Feb. 4, 2026).
• 32 removal orders issued so far.
• 10 people already deported.
• Earlier snapshots showed progress too: by late 2025, things like 111 investigations, 9 removals, and some refugee claims popping up from suspects trying to stall deportations (around 15 in one report from December 2025).

On the criminal side, the task force has racked up charges against several people (reports mention 7 to 11 charged in various updates), executed dozens of search warrants, and grabbed evidence from hundreds of hours of CCTV. Extortion cases spiked hard in 2025 and into 2026, with Surrey alone seeing over 100 files in some periods, including dozens of shootings.

Why the jump in CBSA probes? The task force is feeding more leads to border officers, who check if these individuals violate immigration rules, like criminality or security inadmissibility. If they’re not citizens, deportation becomes a real tool to disrupt the gangs. Officials say it’s not just about kicking people out, it’s about protecting communities from violence and organized crime that preys on fear.

This isn’t isolated to B.C. Similar extortion headaches are popping up in places like Brampton, Mississauga, and Calgary, often hitting South Asian diaspora spots. Experts point to transnational networks using apps like WhatsApp for threats, sometimes recruiting vulnerable migrants or exploiting student visa loopholes.

Communities are frustrated, with calls for more resources, better prevention, and faster action. Police keep stressing they’re “actively hunting” suspects, and federal folks are pitching in with funding for integrated teams. But the fear is real, people are living with intimidation, and no one should have to deal with that.

If you’re in an affected area and get a threat, report it anonymously through Crime Stoppers or local police. The task force and CBSA are ramping up, but it shows how deep this problem runs and why immigration enforcement is now front and center in the fight.