Surrey, BC – British Columbia’s provincial government, the RCMP, and multiple municipal police agencies have announced the launch of a specialized task force to strengthen investigations into extortion threats targeting families and businesses.
“The Province is standing up a new provincial task force that builds on the ongoing work of existing joint forces operations and brings in new partners under a single command structure led by the RCMP,” said Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “This comprehensive approach will expand cross-jurisdictional reach, supporting co-ordinated investigations to bring criminals threatening and perpetrating violence in our communities to justice.”
The task force will consist of 40 members drawn from various policing agencies, including the B.C. RCMP, Abbotsford Police Department, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit–B.C. (CFSEU-BC), Delta Police Department, Metro Vancouver Transit Police, Surrey Police Service, and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). It will receive additional support from the federal RCMP National Co-ordination and Support Team (NCST), which co-ordinates and shares information on extortion cases with law-enforcement agencies in B.C., Alberta, and Ontario.
Led by the B.C. RCMP, the task force will operate under a provincewide mandate and will focus on targeting organized crime linked to extortion threats. “The B.C. RCMP is committed to advancing the investigative efforts taken to date and enhancing the co-ordination and collaboration of the joint forces operation,” said John Brewer, assistant commissioner, B.C. RCMP. “This dedicated and expanded team brings in additional resources, intelligence and tactical skills from multiple law-enforcement agencies, with the common goals of protecting our communities from these extortions, while pursuing and holding those responsible for the violence, intimidation and fear accountable.”
To support municipal police departments, the Province is allocating $200,000 through the federal Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund (GGVAF) to assist with investigating extortion cases. This funding is in addition to more than $100 million the Province invests annually in anti-gang enforcement and intelligence programs aimed at disrupting organized crime, gang activity, illegal firearms, and the drug trade.
The Province has also committed an additional $100,000 from the GGVAF to sustain public-education efforts through the B.C. Crime Stoppers campaign. The extended six-week campaign will encourage people to report extortion threats, helping law enforcement identify and stop those responsible while keeping individuals, families, and businesses informed and safe.