Trilateral Summit Brings Leaders Together to Combat Extortion and Organized Crime

Canada NewsWire

SURREY, BC, Nov. 28, 2025

SURREY, BC, Nov. 28, 2025 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada and the province of British Columbia are taking decisive steps to address the growing threat of extortion targeting individuals and businesses in our communities. These crimes — often carried out using threats and intimidation through social media — can escalate to violence and are frequently linked to organized crime.

Today in Surrey, B.C, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety and the Honourable Ruby Sahota, Secretary of State for Combatting Crime, joined the Honourable David Eby, Premier of British Columbia, the Honourable Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and the Honourable Niki Sharma, Attorney General, municipal leaders and law enforcement officials for a trilateral summit on combatting extortion and organized crime. The summit focused on enforcement, victim support and prevention.

Leaders examined enforcement challenges and the critical role of federal, provincial and local agencies, including as part of the B.C. Extortion Task Force. The Task Force, led by the B.C. Royal Canadian Mounted Police (B.C.-RCMP), and which includes the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and local police, is focusing on solutions and a coordinated response. To bolster enforcement, the B.C. RCMP has previously committed additional resources to the B.C. Extortion Task Force, while the CBSA has opened investigations into 96 foreign nationals who may be inadmissible and has now removed five individuals from Canada.

To strengthen Canadian law enforcement's capacity to disrupt organized crime groups that control the illegal drug market in B.C., the Government of Canada, in collaboration with the B.C. Government, is creating a Regional Integrated Drug Enforcement Team (RIDET). Backed by a federal investment of $4 million over four years, provided through Canada's Border Plan, this team will bring together law and border enforcement resources from multiple agencies and jurisdictions to fight organized drug crime and combat extortion. To maximize collaboration, participants will co-locate in a centralized hub.

Building on these enforcement measures and in response to a request from B.C., leaders committed to expand community safety planning, strengthen supports for victims, and invest in prevention initiatives. As part of this effort, the Government of Canada and the B.C. Government are committing $1-million to support victims of extortion. The Government of Canada is providing the Government of B.C. with $500,000 over two years, through Justice Canada's Victims Fund, for four additional victim service and community outreach workers to assist the B.C. Extortion Task Force and local police. This funding will also support the development and translation of public resources, including webpages and safety planning tools, to improve cultural relevance and accessibility. The federal investment will be matched by the province and address the need for additional victim services and community outreach in Lower Mainland communities, particularly Abbotsford and Surrey. In addition, the B.C. Government is committing $500,000 to the RCMP and police to enhance services for victims of extortion with safety planning and community outreach, and to purchase police equipment to enhance victim safety. The province will develop an online information hub for victims to enhance their security.

Recognizing the importance of tackling crime before it starts, the Government of Canada also announced $1.5 million through Public Safety Canada's Crime Prevention Action Fund for the Yo Bro Yo Girl Youth Initiative. The organization will launch a Youth Engagement Hub in Surrey to help divert vulnerable youth from gangs and organized crime through programs, mentorship, employment training, and counselling for up to 1,000 young people.

The summit concluded with a unified pledge to disrupt organized crime networks and protect businesses and residents across the Lower Mainland. Extortion is a serious crime. The Government of Canada, the Government of B.C. and its partners urge anyone affected not to comply with demands and to report incidents to local police, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers. Multilingual services are available to make reporting safe and accessible. Help is available.

Quote(s)

"Extortion is a serious crime that threatens the safety of our communities and the well-being of families and businesses. Today's summit was about bringing all orders of government along with law enforcement to the table and taking the time to listen to those impacted. Working together we will strengthen enforcement, victim support and prevention. We are committed to disrupting organized crime networks, expanding resources for victims, and ensuring that help is accessible to everyone."

The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety

"Extortion is not tolerated in Canada. There are severe penalties including life imprisonment for those who commit extortion and we're making those penalties even tougher and bail even harder to get. Today's summit is a signal that all levels of government alongside law enforcement and community partners are coordinating and working together so that we can disrupt, dismantle, and punish the organized crime gangs involved in extortions."

The Honourable Ruby Sahota, Secretary of State, Combatting Crime

"Canada's new government is taking action to address the deeply concerning rise in extortions in communities across the country. We are increasing the number of outreach workers to better support communities and victims, we are also acting by making bail harder to get and toughening sentencing for offences involving extortions. We will continue to listen and collaborate with provincial and territorial governments to ensure the proper functioning of the criminal justice system."

The Honourable Sean Fraser, P.C., K.C., M.P., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

"Families and business owners in the South Asian community have been living with fear and intimidation – they deserve a coordinated approach and real results. Today I am confirming that all levels of government and police agencies must work together to support victims and make sure those responsible are arrested and convicted urgently. Anything less is unacceptable to me and anyone affected by these brazen and threatening crimes."

The Honourable David Eby, Premier of British Columbia

"Our government's number one public safety priority right now is bringing these extortion threats to an end and that requires a coordinated effort from all levels of government. The Province is ensuring that police have the tools that they need to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice, while also giving the victims of extortion the supports they need."

The Honourable Nina Krieger, B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General

"B.C. has led national efforts for stronger public safety laws, and we're pleased that the federal government has recently acted on our bail and sentencing Criminal Code reform proposals to help police and prosecutors respond more effectively to extortion threats. We'll continue to work in concert with all levels of government to ensure our law enforcement agencies have the tools and resources they need to keep communities safe and bring perpetrators to justice."

The Honourable Niki Sharma, B.C. Attorney General

"The RCMP is dedicated and committed to advancing efforts that ultimately prevent and identify those responsible for extortions. We are leading the BC Extortion Task Force, surging resources and enhancing coordination and intelligence sharing efforts with our law enforcement partners across the province and country. These collective efforts continue to expand and progress is being made."

Dwayne McDonald, Deputy Commissioner, BC RCMP

"For over 15 years, Yo Bro Yo Girl has supported thousands of young people across the Lower Mainland and Greater Vancouver, helping them create safer, stronger, and brighter futures. With funding from Public Safety Canada's Crime Prevention Action Fund, the Government of Canada's investment in our Surrey Youth Engagement Hub will directly serve up to 1,000 youth and contribute to safer, healthier communities. We are grateful for this federal commitment, which recognizes the impact of organizations like YBYG and reinforces the importance of early intervention and prevention, enabling us to expand vital supports for youth in Surrey."

Joe Calendino, Co-founder and Executive Director of Yo Bro Yo Girl Youth Initiative

Quick Facts

The B.C. Extortion Task Force, is a joint operation established in September 2025. This dedicated, full-time joint operation, brings together the RCMP, CBSA, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU)–B.C., and Delta Police Department, Metro Vancouver Transit Police, Abbotsford Police Department, and Surrey Police Service. By pooling expertise and intelligence, these teams are expanding capacity, tightening collaboration, and driving coordinated action to dismantle organized crime networks and safeguard communities.
A total of $200,000 has been provided through the Government of Canada's Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund (GGVAF) to help police tackle extortion cases that fall outside the BC Extortion Task Force's main investigations.
Provincial actions are reinforced nationally through the RCMP's National Coordination Support Team (NCST). Created through the RCMP's Policing Program, the NCST coordinates and supports investigations into extortion, violence, and intimidation tied to organized crime, including international networks, working with police across Canada and global partners to dismantle these groups.
The Government of Canada has introduced new legislative measures to strengthen our borders, toughen bail and sentencing, including for violent and repeat offenders, and confront the disturbing rise in hate and violent intimidation.
- Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act proposes to crack down on extortion in two ways: making bail harder to get and toughening sentences for offences involving extortion.
Through Canada's $1.3 billion Border Plan, the Government committed to creating three Regional Integrated Drug Enforcement Teams (RIDETs) that bring federal, provincial, and local law enforcement together. These hubs are designed to strengthen enforcement capacity and accelerate efforts to dismantle the illegal drug trade, ensuring a more coordinated and rapid response to emerging threats.
Budget 2025 commits $1.8 billion over four years to bolster federal law enforcement, including hiring 1,000 new RCMP personnel. This investment will increase investigative capacity to address the most serious criminal threats, including organized crime, cybercrime, and national security investigations, among other things.
To help crack down on the movement of stolen goods, illegal guns, and drugs linked to organized crime, Budget 2025 also commits to hire 1,000 new CBSA officers.
A Financial Crimes Agency and Canada's first National Anti-Fraud Strategy will tackle the sharp rise in financial fraud.
At the recent G7 Interior and Security Ministers' meeting in Ottawa ministers committed to strengthening collective action against transnational organized crime by leveraging "follow-the-money" strategies, adapting counter-terrorism and cyber security measures, and enhancing global cooperation to disrupt high-threat criminal networks.
The Bishnoi Gang is now listed as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code, giving law enforcement stronger tools to disrupt its violent tactics.
Community-based investments remain a priority. Investments include:
- $390 million over five years through the Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence, and $250 million through the Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF), launched in 2022. In 2023, Surrey received $3.96 million through the BSCF.
The RCMP has launched the Report Cybercrime and Fraud website, a new national system for individuals, businesses and organizations to report incidents of fraud and cybercrime. Information gathered will help police solve cases, disrupt cybercriminal activity, and prevent further victimization.

Trilateral Summit Brings Leaders Together to Combat Extortion and Organized Crime

Trilateral Summit Brings Leaders Together to Combat Extortion and Organized Crime

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