What is extortion?

An extortion is when an individual receives a demand for money with a threat of violence or intimidation. We are currently seeing a trend across Canada – including in Surrey – where individuals and businesses in predominantly South Asian communities are receiving threatening demands for money by letters, phone calls, text messages, or social media. Many of these threats are believed to extend beyond the boundaries of each city. 
 

How SPS is tackling extortions

Since Surrey began experiencing a spike in extortion threats and associated violence in June 2025, Surrey Police Service (SPS) has taken the following actions: 

• Our dedicated Surrey Extortion Tip Line is monitored 7 days a week from 9am-5pm (236-485-5149).
• The City of Surrey has provided a $250,000 reward fund available to individuals with key information about extortions in Surrey.
• SPS has assigned 15 sworn and civilian staff to the BC Extortion Task Force. This RCMP-led task force unites police resources from Abbotsford, Delta, Surrey, Metro Vancouver Transit Police, RCMP, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC (CFSEU-BC), and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
• SPS also has an in-house team that investigates extortions that are not assigned to the provincial task force.
• SPS's "Project Assurance" team is providing daily patrols in and around extortion target locations to protect victims and disrupt criminal activity.
• SPS has met with police leaders from Abbotsford, Edmonton and Peel Region to share intelligence, investigative strategies, and best practices to further develop and refine our approach.
   

Supporting victims and their families

Protecting and supporting victims remains one of our highest priorities, and we have implemented several important measures:

• Detailed, personalized safety plans for victims and their families
• A dedicated victim management team made up of SPS Victim Services staff and police officers
• Regular contact with victims to support safety and information sharing, and to provide tools and resources to deal with the trauma of being victimized
• Proactive teams dedicated to patrolling extortion target locations.
   

Enforcement results

To date, a number of individuals have been charged with violent offences related to extortion investigations, and CBSA has removed some people from Canada. Police have executed a number of search warrants and several suspects have been arrested and questioned to advance our investigations.

We are often asked why some individuals are arrested and later released. Under the Criminal Code, police may detain someone for up to 24 hours if there are reasonable grounds. In provinces like BC where charge approval is required by Crown Counsel, when additional evidence is required to support charges, police are legally obligated to release the individual after 24 hours, pending further investigation. This is part of due process and ensures that charges are upheld in court.
 

Keeping the community informed

We recognize how important transparency is. While the integrity of investigations must be protected, SPS continues to provide as much information as possible. This has included dozens of news releases related to extortions and media interviews (English and Punjabi), attendance at multiple community forums, a public awareness campaign to promote the tip line and reward fund, and providing updates during public Surrey Police Board meetings. SPS officers have also visited over 1,000 businesses to provide information and encourage reporting.
 

What can you do to help combat extortion?

If you or your business receive threatening demands money:

• Call police immediately: 604-599-0502 or 9-1-1 in emergencies (translation services available)
• Do not pay or negotiate with criminals
• Keep all communications, including voice mails, text messages, or letters
• Write down any details you remember such as car model, description of criminal, etc.

If you have information as a victim, witness, or member of the community please call our Surrey Extortion Tip Line at 236-485-5149. Even pieces of information that seem minor could be vital in helping advance our investigations.
 

Tip line and reward fund

If you have information about an extortion, please call the Surrey Extortion Tip Line at 236-485-5149. The phone line is monitored 7 days a week from 9am-5pm. Language services are available.  

The Surrey Extortion Reward Fund is a $250,000 fund created by the City of Surrey to aid in the gathering of information of Surrey-related extortions. Those that provide specific information that leads to a conviction can receive up to $100,000. This is one of the largest police rewards in Canadian history.

PLEASE NOTE: the tip line does not replace 9-1-1 as the means to alert police to in-progress incidents, nor is it for reporting extortions.
 

Reporting extortion

If you are a victim of an extortion, report that extortion threat to police immediately. The most effective way to report an extortion is to call the police non-emergency line at 604-599-0502 ( in an emergency, call 9-1-1). Our Victim Services staff are also available to support victims and their families - call 604-599-7600.
 

Helping police

• You can help police solve extortion cases by reporting suspicious activity that you see in your neighbourhood. Don't delay, report right away.
• Get involved in your local Block Watch. If you aren't sure if you have a Block Watch set up for your area reach out to us at blockwatch@surreypolice.ca
• Check your surveillance systems to see if they work, and sign up your surveillance cameras with Project Iris to help police access important video of the area.