15 extortion suspects in B.C. have made refugee claims, CBSA says

Police are investigating an early morning shooting at a Surrey business—marking the second time the property has been targeted.

More than a dozen suspects identified by B.C.’s extortion task force have since made refugee claims, according to the Canada Border Services Agency.

As of this week, the CBSA has initiated immigration investigations into 103 foreign nationals with suspected links to the ongoing rash of extortion incidents in the province, many of which have targeted South Asian businesses in Surrey.

Among those suspects, 15 have made refugee claims that were referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, where their claims will be assessed on their merits, CBSA spokesperson Luke Reimer said Friday.

In an email statement, Reimer noted that Canada has “international legal obligations with respect to asylum,” and that individuals have a right to have their case heard, provided their refugee claim meets eligibility requirements.

The CBSA can, however, report a claimant if the agency believes the individual is inadmissible on serious grounds, such as involvement in violent crime, he said.

“Persons found inadmissible for these serious reasons would be issued a removal order and not allowed to proceed with their refugee claim,” Reimer added.

After learning about the claims, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke said she was “appalled” by what she described as an attempt to “evade deportation.”

“Law-abiding Canadians and foreign nationals in our city deserve better than to see our legal and immigration systems abused by criminals to extend their stay in Canada,” Locke said in a statement.

“Our federal government must step up and do their part to keep our residents safe from international thugs and criminals.”

Authorities have linked some of the extortion incidents to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in India, which the Canadian government designated a terrorist organization earlier this year.

In her statement, Locke also said her city is “proud to welcome a broad diversity of Canadians.”

There have been more than 100 suspected extortion incidents this year in B.C.’s Lower Mainland, but authorities have said the problem began in 2023.

In some cases, shop owners have received chilling phone calls demanding they pay millions of dollars, then had their businesses targeted with gunfire or arson.

B.C.’s extortion task force was launched in mid-September, with 40 members from an array of law enforcement agencies, including the CBSA.

Reimer said the agency provides a supporting role of investigating suspects identified by the task force who may be inadmissible to Canada, in some cases because they are in the country without legal status or are accused of violating their immigration conditions.

“We are committed to working with our partners to prioritize the resolution of cases linked to extortion,” Reimer said.