Analysis of the Shooting and Extortion Wave in Surrey, B.C. (2024-2025)

Executive Summary

Surrey, British Columbia, is currently experiencing a significant surge in extortion-related shootings, primarily targeting South Asian-owned businesses and families. This crisis, intensifying from late 2023 through mid-2025, is characterized by criminals, often linked to international South Asian organized-crime groups, demanding large sums of money ($2 million is a common figure) via phone or social media and enforcing these demands with violence, including shootings and, in at least one suspected case, murder. While official police reports indicate 26 extortion files in 2025 as of late July, authorities acknowledge severe under-reporting due to victim fear and mistrust of law enforcement. Alarmingly, roughly half of Surrey’s 43 shooting incidents between January 1 and July 29, 2025, are linked to extortion. Law enforcement has responded with joint task forces, specialized counter-extortion units, and public awareness campaigns. Political figures have called for federal intervention, including the designation of specific gangs as terrorist organizations. However, the multifaceted nature of the problem—involving international criminal networks, local enforcement challenges, and community fear—demands a comprehensive and sustained collaborative effort from all levels of government, law enforcement, and the affected community to restore public safety and confidence.

Context and Scope

Surrey, B.C., has become the epicentre of a severe extortion crisis. Criminals, often operating from overseas and associated with South Asian organized-crime groups (such as those linked to Lawrence Bishnoi and Harjit Singh Laddi), contact victims to demand money, threatening violence if their demands are not met. The violence escalates to shootings at homes and businesses, and in extreme cases, fatalities. The significant challenge is the pervasive under-reporting of these incidents, driven by victims’ fear of retaliation and, in some cases, a perceived lack of efficacy in police response. This analysis covers major incidents, police and governmental responses, and the broader socio-political implications from late 2023 up to August 2, 2025.

Timeline of Major Extortion-Related Shootings and Incidents (May-July 2025)

Scale of the Problem

• Number of Reports: The official number of extortion files reported to the Surrey Police Service (SPS) has shown a rapid increase:
  • Early June 2025: 10 files
  • Early July 2025: 19 files
  • July 29, 2025: 26 files Many of these new reports are historical cases, suggesting increased public awareness and comfort in reporting following community forums and campaigns.
• Shootings: RedFM data indicates 43 shooting incidents in Surrey between January 1 and July 29, 2025, with 21 directly linked to extortion. This signifies that approximately half of the city’s shootings during this period were extortion-related.
• Under-reporting: Police believe the true number of extortion cases is far higher than official statistics. Victims’ fear of reprisal, coupled with a perceived lack of trust or efficacy in law enforcement, leads to silence. Mayor Brenda Locke has received direct calls from fearful residents, and critics point to instances where victims were allegedly turned away when attempting to report. This under-reporting masks the full extent of the crisis and hinders effective law enforcement.Police and Governmental Response

• Joint Task Force (JFO): The RCMP and SPS formed a Joint Force Operation in January 2025, combining resources from various police departments. On July 3, 2025, the JFO announced the arrest of two Surrey residents for careless discharge of a firearm and arson related to 2024 extortion incidents. These suspects were released pending Crown charge approval, a process unique to British Columbia that can create a perception of slow justice.
• Counter-Extortion Unit & Reporting Campaigns: The SPS established a dedicated counter-extortion team in early June 2025. This team coordinates with the JFO and actively encourages reporting through 9-1-1 or Crime Stoppers. On June 26, 2025, the B.C. government launched a $100,000, 60-day Crime Stoppers awareness campaign in English and Punjabi across various media platforms. While the immediate impact on reporting numbers was not evident by early July, authorities credit it with raising awareness.
• Political Responses:
  • Mayor Brenda Locke: Described the situation as “economic terrorism.” She has advocated for a national dashboard to track extortion, a cross-provincial task force, and, notably, urged the federal government to designate extortion-related gangs as terrorist organizations to allow for greater police powers and asset freezing. She consistently implores residents to report and preserve evidence rather than pay demands.
  • Provincial and Federal Officials: Public Safety Minister Garry Begg acknowledges the multi-jurisdictional nature of extortion and highlights the province’s annual investment of over $100 million in organized-crime enforcement. Premier David Eby has formally requested the federal government label the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization, though some critics, like former BC Solicitor General Kash Heed, caution against this without addressing underlying issues.
  • Opposition Criticism: Conservative MLA Steve Kooner and other opposition members have criticized the provincial government for its perceived slow response, highlighting community-led initiatives that preceded significant official action. They advocate for a multilingual anonymous hotline and increased investigative resources.

Community Reaction and Underlying Dynamics

• Fear and Reluctance to Report: The South Asian business community is severely impacted, with widespread fear of retaliation leading many to pay demands or remain silent. The prevailing mistrust of police, stemming from a perceived lack of effective action and high rates of unsolved cases, exacerbates the under-reporting issue.
• Role of Organized Crime: Investigations point to international networks, particularly those associated with India-based gang leaders like Lawrence Bishnoi and Harjit Singh Laddi, as orchestrators of these schemes. They leverage overseas phone numbers and encrypted messaging to issue demands, then contract local individuals to carry out violent enforcement. Law enforcement also warns of “copycat” criminals exploiting the situation without direct gang affiliations.
• Community Activism: Despite the fear, some victims and community members have taken proactive steps. Satish Kumar’s public refusal to pay and his efforts to organize forums and offer rewards are notable examples. Several businesses collectively offered a $100,000 reward for information. These grassroots initiatives are crucial in breaking the culture of silence.
• Broader Violence and Policing Challenges: The challenge for Surrey police is compounded by other forms of gun violence (e.g., road rage incidents) that are unrelated to extortion. The existing backlog of unsolved cases and the unique “Crown charge-approval” process in B.C. can delay arrests and charges, contributing to a perception of inaction and a lack of justice for victims.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The wave of extortion-related shootings in Surrey represents a critical public safety crisis. It is a complex issue rooted in international organized crime exploiting local vulnerabilities and a significant trust deficit within the affected community. The reported 26 extortion cases and the fact that nearly half of Surrey’s 2025 shootings are linked to these demands underscore the urgency of the situation.

To effectively combat this crisis, a multi-pronged approach is essential:

• Encourage Reporting:
  • Launch and widely publicize a dedicated, multilingual, anonymous hotline for extortion reporting, separate from standard police lines, to build trust and overcome language barriers.
  • Intensify public awareness campaigns, particularly in Punjabi and other South Asian languages, emphasizing victim support and the importance of preserving evidence.
  • Reinforce the message that paying demands only perpetuates the cycle of crime.
• Expand Law Enforcement Capacity and Efficiency:
  • Significantly increase staffing and analytical resources for the Joint Force Operation (JFO) and the SPS counter-extortion team.
  • Seek enhanced federal support for tracing international calls, cyber investigations, and freezing overseas assets of implicated criminal networks.
  • Conduct a thorough review of British Columbia’s Crown charge-approval process to identify potential bottlenecks that delay arrests and charges for serious offenders, with a view to expediting justice.
  • Improve coordination and intelligence sharing between provincial and federal agencies to dismantle organized crime networks more effectively.
• Community Engagement and Support:
  • Implement ongoing, culturally sensitive community policing initiatives and regular public forums to rebuild trust between law enforcement and the South Asian community.
  • Establish comprehensive victim-support programs, including counselling services, financial assistance, and, where necessary, relocation assistance to mitigate fear of reprisal.
  • Collaborate with community leaders and religious institutions to foster open dialogue and encourage reporting.
• National Coordination and Policy Review:
  • Advocate for a national dashboard to track extortion cases across Canada, facilitating a coordinated federal response and resource allocation.
  • Carefully evaluate the implications of designating extortion-related gangs as terrorist organizations, ensuring that such a move genuinely provides practical investigative tools and does not inadvertently increase fear or lead to unintended consequences within the community.

Breaking the cycle of extortion in Surrey requires sustained cooperation and commitment from all stakeholders. Leveraging the current momentum generated by public awareness campaigns and community-led initiatives to encourage reporting, while delivering tangible investigative and prosecutorial results, will be critical to restoring public safety and confidence in Surrey, B.C.

Henry

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