Extortion threats leave South Asian communities shaken in B.C., Ontario, Alberta

It started with a voice mail demanding payment of some kind, then a series of missed phone calls, later came the gun shots targeting the home of a Metro Vancouver business owner whose family and community are now gripped with fear. The businessman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the original message demanded a payment, “otherwise there would be consequences,” he said.

At first, it seemed like a “prank” of some kind, and he didn’t take the calls seriously, but he called the would be extortionists back. “We see that you’re doing well in business, so you need to pay us,” they told him. Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We see that you're doing well in business, so you need to pay us," they told him.

Police in at least three provinces are dealing with similar investigations of extortion schemes targeting business owners in South Asian communities, a tactic investigators say is commonly employed by organized crime groups in the Indian state of Punjab. Story continues below advertisement In early December 2023, police in Abbotsford, B.C., revealed that extortion letters had been circulating among businesses in the city and that its major crime unit was looking into them.

3:17 B.C. South Asian businesses targeted in extortion attempts Abbotsford police said at the time that social media posts depicting an extortion letter were consistent with what they’d been seeing. The department also said it was investigating the leak of a police “Law Enforcement Only” bulletin that said investigators were looking into an “ongoing extortion” believed to be tied to two shootings at the homes of victims and an arson case.

It said the suspects are believed to be tied to a gang based in India headed by a man named Lawrence Bishnoi, and the scheme targets “affluent members of the South Asian community.” The bulletin said the Hindi speaking suspects use the messaging service WhatsApp to contact victims and threaten violence after “demanding large quantities of currency.” Story continues below advertisement 1:47 Development in extortion investigation involving business owners across Metro Vancouver In some cases, police said the suspects appear to have detailed knowledge of the victim’s personal information, such as family members, vehicles and lifestyle patterns.

In a statement, Abbotsford Police spokesman Const. Art Stele said police have not confirmed that the “letters are linked to incidences of violence.” “Yet all possible avenues and leads are being investigated,” the statement said. “As there are many moving parts to this investigation, we cannot answer all questions as to not impede on the ongoing investigation, yet will communicate what we can to ensure the public is informed.” 2:30 Police confirm extortion attempts against B.C.

business owners Other police agencies are now involved in a multi jurisdictional investigation in B.C., and police say similar extortion schemes in Ontario and Alberta are under probe as well. Story continues below advertisement View image in full screen Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) said two homes under construction and one home that was recently completed have been destroyed by fire in Edmonton’s Cy Becker neighbourhood.

Global News Last month, the Peel Regional Police in Ontario announced the launch of an Extortion Investigative Task Force after the Dec. 8 arrest of a 23 year old man from Abbotsford, B.C. Get the latest National news. Sent to your email, every day. Peel police said at the time that nine cases were under investigation, and the extortion threats have “caused grave safety and security concerns among our community members.” In Surrey, B.C., RCMP Cpl.

Sarbjit Sangha said in an interview that similar reports of extortion attempts have happened in their jurisdiction, in Edmonton, in West Vancouver and White Rock, B.C. Sangha said these types of extortion attempts involving people seeking “protection money” from business owners are common in India, and police “believe that the same element has raised its head in Canada.” Sangha said people who receive these threats should call police in their home jurisdiction “immediately,” and “not give in to any demands that are asked by these individuals, whether they’re asking for money or anything else.

Story continues below advertisement “They are trying to create a fear in the business community and they’re only targeting people who they know are well off and they have the money,” she said. Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "They are trying to create a fear in the business community and they're only targeting people who they know are well off and they have the money," she said.

“We are working very closely with all of the other jurisdictions that are dealing with similar incidents,” Sangha added. On Dec. 28, Surrey RCMP arrested two people they said are connected with extortion attempts, but the pair was released while charges are considered by the BC Prosecution Service.

On Jan. 3, police in Edmonton announced that they’re investigating 18 extortion incidents in the region that they believe are tied to a series of arsons and drive by shootings. All of the crimes happened in the last three months of 2023. View image in full screen Edmonton Fire Rescue Services received reports of two separate structure fires along Esaiw Place NW at 2:11 a.m.

Friday, Dec. 29, 2023. Supplied to Global News Trending Now No snow winter? What Canadians should expect for the rest of the season Houthis launch drone to attack ships in Red Sea, hours after warning from Canada and allies Edmonton Police said this week that six young males have been arrested in connection with the extortion attempts, shootings and arsons, and they are looking for another potential suspect in a Dec.

29 arson case. Story continues below advertisement Failure to pay the extorted sum has resulted in fires or other property damage to new home builds, show homes and related property, Edmonton police said. View image in full screen A fire on Nov. 12, 2023 destroyed a home near 16 Avenue and 12 Street in the Aster neighbourhood of southeast Edmonton.

Global 1 news helicopter At least seven cases of arson in new neighbourhoods all over Edmonton in the final two months of 2023 have been linked to the investigation, police and fire confirmed to Global News. Edmonton police said the suspects have also been known to make follow up demands for higher sums of money, “leading to an escalation of violence and drive by shootings.” One such shooting happened October and was witnessed by police already working in the area.

1:37 Targeted drive by shooting in southeast Edmonton put families at risk: Police Surrey based Hindu temple president Satish Kumar said his own son’s family home was targeted by gunfire late last month. Story continues below advertisement Kumar said he and his family members haven’t received any extortion calls or letters, but the escalating violence has people on edge.

“The community is very shaken right now,” Kumar said in an interview. Kumar, the president of Surrey’s Lakshmi Narayan Mandir temple, said a community forum to discuss the violence and extortion incidents is happening at the Reflection Banquet Hall on Jan. 6. He said he and others are still trying to understand why they’re being targeted.

“We do not have any enemy, no problem with anything,” he said. “You know, we are businessmen.” 2:24 Special public forum organized to deal with B.C. business extortion threats For the Metro Vancouver business owner still grappling with the shooting at his home, the incident has rattled him and he’s encouraging attendance at the upcoming forum in Surrey.

Story continues below advertisement “My children are afraid, my mom and dad are very afraid, you know, they don’t want me leaving the house,” he said. The recent arrests announced by Surrey RCMP didn’t offer much comfort, he said. “At the end of the day, for us, is until somebody’s actually held and found accountable and charged, I mean it really doesn’t do much to arrest somebody and let them go,” he said.

“I mean, these guys are on the street.” Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I mean, these guys are on the street." 1:54 Reported extortion attempts prompt police warnings in Surrey, Abbotsford — With files from Karen Bartko, Global News More on Crime Ontario woman found dead after police allegedly don’t respond to 911 call More Jeffrey Epstein docs shed light on abuse suffered by victims Quebec man sought by U.S.

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