Surrey mayor ‘appalled’ by extortion suspects’ refugee claims as police investigate another shooting

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

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says she is “appalled” that suspects identified by B.C.’s Extortion Task Force “are claiming refugee status to evade deportation.”

Locke issued a statement condemning the practice and calling on the federal government to “immediately fix Canada’s immigration and deportation laws” Thursday, as police in her city dealt with another suspected extortion-related shooting.

The latest incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. at a business near 82 Avenue and 124 Street, according to a statement from the Surrey Police Service.

“A suspect fired multiple shots at the business and then fled the area in a dark-coloured vehicle,” the SPS said.

“Nobody was in the business at the time of the shooting and there were no injuries as a result. This is the second time that the business has been targeted in a shooting.”

Police said they were notified of the shooting around 7:45 a.m., when an employee arrived and saw the damage.

The SPS Organized Crime Unit has taken over the investigation, and the shooting is believed to be related to the ongoing extortion problem.

Police asked anyone with information about the latest incident—including video evidence or knowledge about the identities of the suspects—to call them at 604-599-0502.

Information can also be provided by calling the Surrey Extortion Tip Line at 236-485-5149 or by contacting Crime Stoppers anonymously at 800-222-8477. The file number for this case is 25-109899 (SP).

“Surrey has been disproportionately impacted by these extortion attempts, and those responsible must face swift justice,” Locke said Thursday.

“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.”

Late last month, the task force said the border agents had launched investigations into 96 foreign nationals in connection with the extortion issue because they “may be inadmissible” to Canada.

Five of those individuals had already been deported, the task force said at the time. It did not mention any refugee claims.

In a statement to CTV News Thursday evening, the CBSA provided updated numbers.

The agency now says it has initiated immigration investigations into 103 foreign nationals who may be inadmissible, in support of the extortion task force’s work.

The number of removal orders and deportations remain at 11 and five, respectively, and 15 people have made refugee claims after coming under CBSA investigation. Their cases have been referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.

While Canada has legal obligations with respect to asylum claims, the CBSA said it refers claimants it believes are inadmissible for “violating human or international rights, serious criminality, or organized criminality” to the Immigration Division of the IRB for an admissibility finding, which takes place before their refugee claim is allowed to proceed. Those found inadmissible are issued a removal order and their refugee claims are halted, the agency said.

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