Victoria, B.C. – Public Safety and Solicitor General Minister Nina Krieger issued a strong statement today emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced federal support to combat organized crime and extortion impacting communities across British Columbia — particularly the South Asian community.
“Extortion is a serious crime impacting people, businesses and communities across Canada — with disproportionate impacts on the South Asian community in British Columbia, requiring an integrated local, national and international policing approach,” said Krieger.
Krieger noted that for nearly two years, the Government of British Columbia has been calling on Ottawa to provide additional federal policing resources to address organized crime and strengthen security at borders and ports. Premier David Eby raised the issue directly with the Prime Minister during his most recent trip to Ottawa.
The province established the B.C. Extortion Task Force to coordinate efforts across jurisdictions, bringing together agencies including the BC RCMP, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit BC (CFSEU-BC), Delta Police, Surrey Police, Abbotsford Police, Metro Vancouver Transit Police and the Canada Border Services Agency. The task force also liaises with police and intelligence partners across Canada, ensuring a high level of coordination among all enforcement agencies.
Krieger confirmed she has written to the federal government reaffirming B.C.’s commitment to partnership and its openness to additional federal resources. The letter outlines several specific measures for additional federal support to
- Deployment of more RCMP Federal Policing officers and analysts to the B.C. Extortion Task Force,
- Increased federal funding for victim supports, community outreach, and safety planning
- and Enhanced intelligence coordination, including dedicated federal liaisons and expedited tactical disclosures.
“While it’s encouraging to see early results from coordinated investigations with arrests and charges, this violence continues in our communities,” Krieger added. “We will accept all supports available and work together to bring extortionists to justice. Our shared objective is straightforward — British Columbians and all Canadians deserve to live and do business without fear of threats. We will continue to work together with the federal government to coordinate all available resources to help bring this violence to an end.”