Surge in Extortion-related violence Prompts Arrests and New Task Force in Surrey,B.C.
A wave of alleged extortion attempts and related shootings in surrey, british Columbia, has led to multiple arrests and the launch of a dedicated task force aimed at curbing the escalating violence. Authorities report a significant increase in these crimes, notably within the South Asian community.
Multiple Cases Unfold
Five men are now facing charges in connection with two separate investigations into extortion and related offenses. According to the B.C. RCMP, Abkeet Kingram, 26, and Vikram Sharma, 24, have been charged with arson and discharge of a firearm with intent, stemming from a shooting in August 2024 at a residence where the occupant had received extortion threats. Kingram is currently in police custody on an unrelated matter, while a warrant has been issued for SharmaS arrest.
Separately,the Surrey Police Service (SPS) has charged three men – Mandeep Gidda,23,Nirmaandeep Cheema,20,and Arundeep Singh,26 – in connection with a shooting that occurred on March 27th at approximately 1:55 a.m. PT in the 13300 block of 89A Avenue. No injuries were reported in the incident, but investigators resolute the shooting was linked to an ongoing extortion case. All three men have been charged with one count each of reckless discharge of a firearm.
“These three arrests and charges are a positive step forward as Surrey Police Service continues to aggressively tackle the issue of extortions,” Chief Const. Norm Lipinski stated in a news release. “Enforcement and all investigative tactics will continue to ramp up as we work together to bring these criminals to justice.”
Pattern of violence Emerges
Authorities have revealed a concerning pattern of violence. Staff Sgt.Lindsey Houghton of the SPS confirmed that none of the accused individuals have prior criminal records.Houghton also disclosed that a previous shooting occurred outside the same residence on February 18, 2024, but remains unconnected to the March incident.
This year alone,Surrey has seen 56 reported extortion-related cases and 31 associated shootings,highlighting the severity of the problem. A recent shooting on Monday morning further underscored the escalating tensions. Officers responded to reports of shots fired in the 2100 block of King George Boulevard at approximately 2:20 a.m. PT, discovering damage to a South Surrey business, Ustaad G 76 restaurant. Police have taken a suspect into custody regarding this incident,and believe it may also be linked to extortion.
[Image of police gathering evidence at Ustaad G 76 South Surrey restaurant on monday. (Ben Nelms/CBC)]
Province-Wide Response
The escalating crisis has prompted a province-wide response. Earlier this year, British Columbia launched a public awareness campaign to encourage reporting of extortion attempts. In september,an RCMP-led task force was established specifically to address extortion and shootings targeting the south Asian community.
the RCMP has identified the India-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang as being linked to extortion threats within Canada’s South Asian community. Last week, the federal government officially designated the gang as a terrorist association. While authorities are investigating potential connections between the March shooting suspects and the Bishnoi gang, Houghton stated it remains unclear whether any links exist.
Watch: B.C. launches task force to tackle rise in extortion, shootings in South Asian community:[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOUR_YOUTUBE_VIDEO_ID]
Gidda and Cheema are scheduled to appear in court on Monday afternoon, while Singh is slated to appear on Wednesday. The investigations remain ongoing as police work to dismantle the networks fueling this surge in criminal activity and restore safety to the affected communities.
