Surrey, B.C. – Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has announced a $250,000 reward fund for information leading to convictions in a wave of extortion cases that have shaken the city’s South Asian community.
Speaking Monday alongside Surrey Police Service (SPS) Chief Constable Norm Lipinski, Locke confirmed that City Council approved the funding on September 10—making it one of the largest police rewards in Canadian history.
“Extortions are planned and deliberate, and while we are told transnational, make no mistake: This is a Canadian problem, affecting Canadian businesses and Canadian residents,” said Locke. “Everyone has the right to live and work without fear, and we need anyone with information to come forward before someone gets hurt or worse.”
Chief Lipinski called the initiative a vital tool in tackling the violence.
“The Surrey Extortion Reward Fund will provide police with another important tool to address this most urgent issue in our community. It is our hope that this will motivate individuals to call our new tip line to provide evidence that will lead to arrests and convictions.”
The SPS is currently investigating 44 extortion cases, 27 of which involved shootings, underscoring the severity of the threat.
The Surrey Extortion Tip Line—236-485-5149—will be monitored daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Punjabi-speaking officers available to assist callers. Rewards will be issued only if tips directly result in identification, prosecution, and conviction of those responsible.