A former senior officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has suggested that a recent surge in extortion threats and shootings in British Columbia may be connected to international crime networks linked to India. Galib Bhayani, a criminology instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and former chief superintendent with RCMP Metro Vancouver Operations, noted that while local investigators have not yet established this connection, the complexity of the cases is increasing.

Bhayani initially viewed the extortion threats against business owners as local criminal activity. However, as he examined similar incidents in Alberta and Brampton, Ontario, he began to suspect a broader, international scope. He pointed to accusations made by then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding India's involvement in the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh activist and gurdwara president in Surrey, as a potential catalyst for these crimes.

"You start to put pieces of the puzzle together," Bhayani said. "So it became really apparent to me that this is international, transnational organized crime directing activities in Canada from somewhere overseas."

While Bhayani cannot definitively state that all extortion cases are directed from India, he believes that a significant number are. He stated, "A majority of the incidents are being directed from overseas."

Surrey Police spokesperson Ian MacDonald acknowledged awareness of online discussions regarding India's involvement in local extortion cases. He noted that many extortion incidents have multi-jurisdictional and offshore components, which complicate the investigations for municipal police agencies.

The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility for some extortion-related incidents. However, MacDonald emphasized that the department is cautious about drawing premature conclusions regarding India's role in these cases.

Puneet Sandhar, a lawyer and vice-president of the South Asian Business Association of B.C., echoed similar sentiments. She mentioned that there is a growing concern within the community about the rise in extortion attempts. "Maybe everyone is not a part of the same so-called gang, because when something like this happens, there is inspired violence," Sandhar said. "There’s this river that is growing, and everyone is trying to go and wash their hands and benefit from it."

Bhayani expressed support for the formation of a dedicated task force involving multiple agencies to investigate extortion threats. He highlighted the challenges local police face in addressing crimes with international links, particularly in intercepting communications from abroad. He suspects that many extortionists were sent to Canada by an overseas government and noted that investigations are ongoing for nearly 80 foreign nationals.

The Canada Border Services Agency has not disclosed the nationalities of these individuals. Bhayani remarked that not all perpetrators may have intended to engage in criminal activity. "I think some come here with good intentions, and then … the economy is really hard for everyone," he said. "Seeing the vulnerability of people who are low income all of a sudden being offered extra money to do things that they would never normally do … and I think some have been sent here to do this."

Bhayani also pointed out the complexities investigators face in these cases, particularly regarding information sharing with India. He noted, "Our sharing of information is very limited, if any, with India, given our relationship with them."

The rise in local extortion cases has resulted in several injuries. Recently, a woman was injured when a Surrey home was shot at, and another individual was hurt during a shooting at a mansion in Surrey, which had been targeted multiple times. Bhayani believes these incidents are deliberate and escalating. "I think they’re very specific, targeted, and they’re escalating," he said. "What does that tell you about their care for any of the citizens here in Canada? It tells me they don’t care at all."

While Bhayani could not pinpoint the ultimate goal of the extortionists, he noted the presence of a wealthy South Asian diaspora in Canada. "They’ve worked very hard to get to where they are today," he said. "But I also think there may be some other things at play here that I still can’t say, because I’d be speculating."

As investigations continue, the situation remains a pressing concern for law enforcement and the community.