2 arrests made amid investigation into threats to South Asian community: RCMP
Posted July 3, 2025 1:18 pm.
Last Updated July 3, 2025 2:10 pm.
The RCMP has provided an update on its ongoing investigation into extortion threats targetting the South Asian community.
Two suspects were arrested Thursday for careless discharge of a firearm and arson, in relation to incidents last year in Surrey.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!Mounties began investigating a series of targetted financial extortions in late 2023.
Victims have reported receiving threats, demanding large sums of money, sometimes followed by acts of violence or property damage if demands weren’t met.
Last month, police in Surrey had formed a special investigative team to look into extortion threats after receiving 10 reports of such incidents in the last six months.
Since then, the B.C. government announced launching a public awareness campaign to address the threats.
The campaign, coming at a cost of $100,000, is set to share information about recognizing and reporting extortion threats, which the government believes will help individuals, business owners, and families stay safe and informed.
The announcement of the campaign comes after Premier David Eby said he would write to Prime Minister Mark Carney to ask that the India-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang be given the terrorist designation “to enable police to be able to use the necessary tools to investigate.”
The RCMP previously stated that it has linked the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to extortion and other crimes against South Asian community members in Alberta, Ontario, and B.C.
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke said she had also written to Carney with the same request to protect her city, where many residents have been targeted.
Mounties held a media conference outside the BC RCMP Divisional Headquarters in Surrey Thursday afternoon, but were not forthcoming with additional details.
Chief Superintendent Duncan Pound says investigations take time and the announcement Thursday served largely to reassure the community and encourage victims to continue reporting the threats.
“There are no current charges laid, so we will not be able to go into the names or details of the individuals arrested. But this operational aspect is now wide out, wide open, and it had been kept under wraps in order to ensure that the investigative objectives were able to be met,” said Pound.
He confirmed that the suspects are Surrey residents and both remain in custody.
—With files from Charlie Carey
