Five foreign nationals are in police custody and face a string of charges arising out of an RCMP extortion investigation involving members of British Columbia's South Asian community.
Supt. Harm Dosange, with the Langley RCMP, said Friday that the investigation into arsons, shootings and extortions started in June 2025 when owners of an auto dealership reached out to police.
The criminals' demands were followed up by shootings and arsons in Langley and neighbouring Surrey, B.C., he said.
Dosange said it was a long and difficult case for investigators as they worked across Canada and internationally.
"They faced numerous daunting challenges and some unprecedented things we have not seen before," he said, although he wouldn't elaborate as the case is before the courts.
The five accused are in their 20s and face a variety of charges, including extortion, damaging property by fire explosion and throwing an explosive substance, along with numerous drug and firearms allegations.
"We obtained evidence identifying additional suspects, evidence that supports other extortion-related offences throughout Western Canada," Dosange said during a news conference.
One of the accused was arrested getting off a plane in Toronto from India, police said.
Investigators "determined that it was in the public interest to have him appear before the courts in Canada," police said in a news release.
The RCMP said investigators worked with immigration and border services officials as well as international police to facilitate a "controlled operation" to allow the suspect to enter Canada in order to arrest him.
The arrests are among a series of cases being investigated by police after a provincewide extortion task force was launched last year, while police in Surrey and Abbotsford also diverted officers to the cases.
The City of Surrey set up a $250,000 reward for convictions, while the Surrey Police Service started keeping statistics for the year.
From Jan. 1 to Sept. 28, the department has had 142 reported extortions, 21 related shots-fired cases, three arsons and 76 victims, although 39 of them are repeated victims.
The extortionists are aiming their threats at business owners and those in the South Asian community.
Chief Supt. Duncan Pound with B.C.'s extortion task force said the trial for those accused will hear if the India-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang is involved.
"I will say there are lots of these investigations where we've seen that the perpetrators will allege that they're connected to high-profile gangs to try and increase the level of intimidation," he said.
It's also a way to make money, he noted.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has been labelled a terrorist entity in Canada. Bishnoi has been accused of running his operation while in prison in India.
Both Dosange and Pound say the victims' courage to come to police made the difference in their investigation.
"Truly, without really timely reporting and the courage to come forward and provide as many details as they can, it's very difficult for the police anywhere to get to a point like we are at today, where we can announce arrests and charges being laid."
Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sammy Kogan
