South Asian communities grappling with extortion threats | CityNews Calgary

It began with a voice mail demanding fee of some form, then a sequence of missed cellphone calls, later got here the gun photographs concentrating on the house of a Metro Vancouver business proprietor whose household and group at the moment are gripped with concern.

The businessman, who spoke on the situation of anonymity, stated the unique message demanded a fee, “otherwise there would be consequences,” he stated.

At first, it appeared like a “prank” of some form, and he didn’t take the calls critically, however he referred to as the would-be extortionists again.

“We see that you’re doing well in business, so you need to pay us,” they informed him.

Police in not less than three provinces are coping with related investigations of extortion schemes concentrating on business homeowners in South Asian communities, a tactic investigators say is often employed by organized crime teams within the Indian state of Punjab.

In early December 2023, police in Abbotsford, B.C., revealed that extortion letters had been circulating amongst companies within the metropolis and that its main crime unit was wanting into them.

Abbotsford police stated on the time that social media posts depicting an extortion letter have been in step with what they’d been seeing.

The division additionally stated it was investigating the leak of a police “Law Enforcement Only” bulletin that stated investigators have been wanting into an “ongoing extortion” believed to be tied to 2 shootings on the properties of victims and an arson case.

It stated the suspects are believed to be tied to a gang primarily based in India headed by a person named Lawrence Bishnoi, and the scheme targets “affluent members of the South Asian community.”

The bulletin stated the Hindi-speaking suspects use the messaging service WhatsApp to contact victims and threaten violence after “demanding large quantities of currency.”

In an announcement, Abbotsford Police spokesman Const. Art Stele stated police haven’t confirmed that the “letters are linked to incidences of violence.”

“Yet all possible avenues and leads are being investigated,” the assertion stated. “As there are many moving parts to this investigation, we cannot answer all questions as to not impede on the ongoing investigation, yet will communicate what we can to ensure the public is informed.”

Other police businesses at the moment are concerned in a multi-jurisdictional investigation in B.C., and police say related extortion schemes in Ontario and Alberta are underneath probe as properly.

Last month, the Peel Regional Police in Ontario introduced the launch of an  Extortion Investigative Task Force after the Dec. 8 arrest of a 23-year-old man from Abbotsford, B.C.

Peel police stated on the time that 9 instances have been underneath investigation, and the extortion threats have “caused grave safety and security concerns among our community members.”

In Surrey, B.C., RCMP Cpl. Sarbjit Sangha stated in an interview that related studies of extortion makes an attempt have occurred of their jurisdiction, in Edmonton, in West Vancouver and White Rock, B.C.

Sangha stated a majority of these extortion makes an attempt involving folks searching for “protection money” from business homeowners are frequent in India, and police “believe that the same element has raised its head in Canada.”

Sangha stated individuals who obtain these threats ought to name police of their dwelling jurisdiction “immediately,” and “not give in to any calls for which might be requested by these people, whether or not they’re asking for cash or the rest.

“They are trying to create a fear in the business community and they’re only targeting people who they know are well off and they have the money,” she stated.

“We are working very closely with all of the other jurisdictions that are dealing with similar incidents,” Sangha added.

On Dec. 28, Surrey RCMP arrested two folks they stated are linked with extortion makes an attempt, however the pair was launched whereas expenses are thought-about by the BC Prosecution Service.

On Jan. 3, police in Edmonton introduced that they’re investigating 18 extortion incidents within the area that they consider are tied to a sequence of arsons and drive-by shootings.

Edmonton Police stated this week that six younger males have been arrested in reference to the extortion makes an attempt, shootings and arsons, and they’re searching for one other potential suspect in a Dec. 29 arson case.

Surrey-based Hindu temple president Satish Kumar stated his personal son’s household dwelling was focused by gunfire late final month.

Kumar stated he and his relations haven’t acquired any extortion calls or letters, however the escalating violence has folks on edge.

“The community is very shaken right now,” Kumar stated in an interview.

Kumar, the president of Surrey’s Lakshmi Narayan Mandir temple, stated a group discussion board to debate the violence and extortion incidents is going on on the Reflection Banquet Hall on Jan. 6.

He stated he and others are nonetheless attempting to grasp why they’re being focused.

“We do not have any enemy, no problem with anything,” he stated. “You know, we are businessmen.”

For the Metro Vancouver business proprietor nonetheless grappling with the capturing at his dwelling, the incident has rattled him and he’s encouraging attendance on the upcoming discussion board in Surrey.

“My children are afraid, my mom and dad are very afraid, you know, they don’t want me leaving the house,” he stated.

The latest arrests introduced by Surrey RCMP didn’t provide a lot consolation, he stated.

“At the end of the day, for us, is until somebody’s actually held and found accountable and charged, I mean it really doesn’t do much to arrest somebody and let them go,” he stated. “I mean, these guys are on the street.”