Homicide investigators taking over case of missing Surrey man

A Surrey Police Service vehicle is seen outside the department's headquarters. (CTV News)

A 25-year-old man reported missing in Surrey earlier this week is now the subject of an investigation by the Lower Mainland’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.

Navdeep Dhaliwal was reported missing around 10:45 p.m. Wednesday, and he was last seen the day before that, the Surrey Police Service said in a news release Friday.

While he had been missing for just a short time, Dhaliwal maintained regular contact with friends and family, and “therefore even this seemingly brief period without contact was highly unusual,” the SPS release reads.

Evidence gathered by the SPS Serious Crime Unit so far prompted the department to contact IHIT, police said.

“There are indications that Navdeep Dhaliwal’s disappearance is suspicious,” Surrey police said. “For this reason, IHIT was engaged and has been deployed.”

The SPS did not elaborate on the evidence it had gathered, nor did it say it believes Dhaliwal is deceased.

“No further information will be provided by SPS at this time,” the SPS said, referring further inquiries to IHIT.

Anyone who has information related to the investigation should call the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-4448 or email [e-mail], police said.