News release
An update from the B.C. Extortion Task Force in relation to ongoing investigations
November 28, 2025
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British Columbia, British Columbia
From: British Columbia RCMP
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Since the creation of the B.C. Extortion Task Force in September, investigators have been working diligently to advance several investigations. Efforts have been focused on understanding linkages between files, establishing series, identifying suspects and suspect groups and coordinating with law enforcement partners across the province and the country.
Engaging in both reactive and proactive enforcement, the B.C. Task Force has been using intelligence-led strategies to address the ongoing issues of extortion in our communities. The team continues to use covert and overt strategies to gather and analyze physical and digital evidence, executing search warrants, and managing evolving risks.
As part of the investigative efforts, earlier this morning, on November 28, 2025 the Task Force conducted a search warrant execution on a residence with the support of the Lower Mainland District Integrated Emergency Response Team (LMD IERT). Multiple individuals were in the residence at the time and arrested, items have been seized, and the search and investigation remain ongoing.
Making arrests and conducting search warrants are an integral part of our investigations but are only one of the many tools being used by investigators. Over the course of the Task Force’s investigations, several arrests have been made, however they are not all spoken about publicly. The reason we are not publicly speaking about each arrest or search warrant is to protect the integrity and viability of the ongoing investigations.
The B.C. Extortion Task Force continues to be supported by the surge resources from the BC RCMP, including the Combined Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC), BC Highway Patrol, Emergency Response Teams and Police Dog Services. Strategic, intelligence-led deployment of resources are providing the task force with information gathering and proactive patrols among other tasks.
As a key member of the Task Force, additional forensic support is being provided by the Provincial Forensic Firearm Lab (PFFL), through CFSEU-BC to assist in conducting a multi-disciplinary, priority analysis of guns seized as a result of investigations.
The Canada Border Services Agency’s (CBSA) Pacific Region Immigration Enforcement and Intelligence and Investigations Operations are an integral part of the Extortion Task Force. Their role is to assist in the execution of search warrants, conduct Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) investigations and share information with law enforcement partners.
As of November 28, 2025, the CBSA has initiated immigration investigations into 96 foreign nationals who may be inadmissible and has removed from Canada five individuals related to these investigations. The CBSA has a legal obligation to remove as quickly as possible all foreign nationals found to be inadmissible to Canada under the IRPA.
Continuous file review and assessment have allowed the Task Force to identify connections, clusters and similarities amongst the various occurrences and investigations. The intelligence gathered to inform the execution of search warrants, proactive patrols and other investigative steps is a direct result of our collaboration with Task Force partners at the local, provincial and federal levels.
“The B.C. Extortion Task Force is actively liaising with law enforcement partners at the local, provincial, federal and international levels,” says Assistant Commissioner John Brewer, BC RCMP. “As a result, we are aware of the arrest of an individual by the Delhi Police. Investigators are working to assess any potential connections to ongoing investigations here in British Columbia.”
“While we continue to be cautious about the information shared regarding active and ongoing investigations, we want the communities to know we are making progress,” continues Assistant Commissioner Brewer. “Our investigations are intelligence-led and evidence-based, and we encourage anyone with information about these crimes to report them to your local police.”
We continue to encourage anyone who has been the victim of extortion to report it to police, save all communications, do not respond to threats and do not comply with demands.
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Contacts
British Columbia RCMP
778-290-2929