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Ottawa, B.C. Pledge $1 Million to Support Police Helping Extortion Victims

A provincial task force now counts about 90 active files with first-time participation by the border agency.

Overview

  • Premier David Eby announced the funding at a Surrey meeting with police and local, provincial and federal officials.
  • The money will be used for victim communication and to help people develop safety plans, according to the province.
  • Authorities say threats have largely targeted South Asian businesspeople and coincided with dozens of shootings in Surrey and Abbotsford.
  • Some incidents have been linked by officials to the Lawrence Bishnoi crime group based in India, with CBSA reporting three deportations and 78 inadmissibility probes.
  • Local measures include a $250,000 Surrey reward fund and a Vancouver Police community forum, despite no extortion cases reported in Vancouver.