Shots fired at another Surrey, B.C., business in possible extortion incident, police say

Police say a case where shots fired into a Surrey business may be linked to ongoing extortion threats targeting members of the South Asian community.

Authorities are investigating another shooting targeting a Surrey, B.C., business – in what investigators suspect is another extortion-related act of violence.

The Surrey Police Service said the shots were fired at the entrance to a business on 80 Avenue sometime between Saturday and Monday.

“Fortunately there were no injuries to anyone,” the SPS said in a news release. “At this early stage, investigators believe the motive may be extortion related.”

Social media video posted by independent journalist Sameer Kaushal on Monday shows police tape surrounding Sidhu Travel Ltd. A set of gated glass doors are also shattered.

Surrey police said officers will be canvassing the area for surveillance video, and asked anyone with dash-cam video or relevant information to come forward.

Authorities are investigating a series of financial extortion attempts, primarily targeting South Asian businesses, that have been reported since 2023.

Some owners have received chilling phone calls demanding they pay exorbitant sums, then been threatened with gun violence or arson.

The RCMP announced the arrests of two suspects last month.

The latest shooting followed another that damaged 1313 Car Wash. The owner told CTV News he received a phone call demanding $50,000 days before the shooting.

“I’m so worried and scared, it’s a very hard time for me,” Lovepreet Singh said last week. “The neighbourhood shops are also worried because it can happen over here it can happen over there in the middle of the night, so nobody’s safe.”

Surrey police said the motive in that incident had not been determined.

With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Ben Nesbit