Two years following the initial report of a series of extortion incidents in British Columbia, the threats, demands, and associated violence continue to be ongoing in the province. The most recent event occurred on November 8 in South Surrey, B.C., where a shooting incident was tied to extortion, as confirmed by law enforcement. Numerous investigations are ongoing in the province, with over 100 extortion cases reported in B.C. as of November 7, 2025.
The Bishnoi gang based in India has claimed responsibility for certain shootings in Canada on social media. Authorities have indicated a link between the Bishnoi gang and Indian government agents. Galib Bhayani, a criminology professor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and a former RCMP officer, highlighted the challenges police face in investigating these international extortion attempts.
Bhayani emphasized the complexity arising from the international nature of these crimes, stating that the lack of effective information-sharing mechanisms with India hinders investigations. Tensions between Canada and India escalated over the last couple of years, particularly following accusations by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding the involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023.
Federal RCMP commissioner Michael Duheme previously stated that the RCMP possessed substantial evidence implicating the “highest levels” of the Indian government in orchestrating violence, including murder and extortion, on Canadian soil. Efforts to share evidence with Indian authorities have been unsuccessful.
Local law enforcement in British Columbia faces challenges in handling these investigations, as they require substantial resources and specialized expertise. Recognizing the limitations in international partnerships, Bhayani emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration to address these criminal activities effectively.
In response to the escalating extortion incidents, a specialized RCMP-led task force was established in September, comprising 40 members from various law enforcement agencies. The task force is dedicated to investigating extortion cases and includes intelligence analysts. Despite the increased focus on these crimes, the number of reported extortion cases in British Columbia has risen since the task force’s inception, partly due to an increase in public reporting.
Discussions on the complexities of these investigations took place during an extortion town hall event hosted by CBC BC on November 13. Participants emphasized the importance of local arrests and transparency in police operations. Jinny Sims, a radio host and former MP from Surrey, stressed the need for arrests to be made locally to address the impact on the community. Bhayani called for greater transparency from law enforcement regarding the number of arrests, seizures, and disruptions made in relation to these extortion cases, advocating for regular public updates to build trust with the community.
