Canadian border officials have deported three people and are investigating 78 others amid a probe into organized extortion targeting South Asian businesses.
Canadian authorities have deported three foreign nationals in connection with an ongoing investigation into a series of violent extortion schemes targeting South Asian business owners across British Columbia, officials said on Friday November 7, 2025.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) confirmed that the deportations were carried out in coordination with British Columbia’s new provincial extortion task force, which was formed earlier this year in response to a wave of shootings, arson, and threats linked to organized crime networks.
In a statement, the CBSA said it is also reviewing the immigration status of 78 additional foreign nationals who may be deemed inadmissible to Canada because of suspected involvement in criminal activity. The agency emphasized that the actions are part of broader efforts to “protect the integrity of Canada’s borders and communities.”
Officials have not disclosed the identities or nationalities of the individuals deported, citing privacy and ongoing security concerns. However, authorities noted that several of the cases under review involve alleged ties to transnational crime rings believed to be operating in parts of Surrey, Abbotsford, and other cities across the Lower Mainland.
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The task force, launched jointly by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and provincial law enforcement agencies, has been investigating a series of extortion attempts that specifically target South Asian-owned businesses, including restaurants, trucking firms, and construction companies. Victims have reported being threatened with gunfire or property damage if they refuse to pay money demanded by extortionists.
Provincial officials say the pattern of violence has alarmed local communities and prompted calls for tougher enforcement and stronger immigration screening for individuals linked to criminal enterprises abroad.
“British Columbians deserve to feel safe in their communities,” the CBSA statement read. “We are working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and remove individuals who threaten public safety.”
Law enforcement agencies have encouraged potential victims to come forward, assuring them of protection under Canada’s witness and victim support programs.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities describing the deportations as “only the beginning of a broader crackdown” on cross-border crime networks exploiting immigrant communities.