September 15, 2025 – Surrey, B.C.
The City of Surrey has announced a $250,000 reward fund, one of the largest in Canadian history, aimed at combating a surge of extortion cases threatening businesses and families across the community.
The fund, approved by City Council last week, will be administered by the Surrey Police Service (SPS) and will pay rewards for information that directly leads to the identification, prosecution, and conviction of those responsible for the crimes.
Mayor Brenda Locke said the initiative reflects the city’s determination to stop the spread of organized extortion schemes, which have been linked to violent incidents across Metro Vancouver.
“We cannot and will not let extortion take hold in our city,” Locke said during Monday’s announcement. “Everyone has the right to live and work without fear. People are living in terror, hearing gunfire outside their homes while their children sleep. This has to stop.”
A growing threat
The SPS is currently investigating 44 active extortion cases, including 27 shootings tied to the schemes. Police say the threats are largely targeting members of the South Asian business community in Surrey and other parts of Canada.
Chief Constable Norm Lipinski said a dedicated SPS extortion team has identified several persons of interest, but more evidence is needed to secure convictions.
“This reward is intended to motivate individuals to provide specific evidence to police to further the investigation,” Lipinski said. “Even a small piece of information could be the key to solving these cases.”
How the reward fund works
The reward fund will be distributed based on the usefulness of tips provided to police. Unlike anonymous reporting through Crime Stoppers (1-800-222-8477), callers to the new Surrey Extortion Tip Line (236-485-5149) must identify themselves to be eligible for a reward.
The line will operate daily between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., with Punjabi-speaking officers available to support callers from the community most impacted.
Payments will only be issued if information directly results in charges and convictions.
Broader concerns
The announcement comes after months of escalating violence. In June, the B.C. government committed $100,000 to a public awareness campaign, urging victims to report incidents rather than pay extortion demands.
The RCMP also established a national extortion task force in 2024, coordinating investigations across B.C., Alberta, and Ontario. Despite these efforts, Locke criticized other levels of government for not providing stronger support.
“To be perfectly frank, we have not had what I had hoped for in terms of that support,” she said. “People are living in fear in our city, and this is not good enough. We need more action from the provincial and federal governments.”
Lipinski emphasized that victims should never pay extortion demands, but instead report incidents and preserve evidence, such as threatening emails or messages. Police will also work with victims to implement safety measures.
National implications
Authorities say while the schemes often have transnational links, the crimes are being felt at home. Businesses across Canada—particularly South Asian-owned—have been targeted with money demands under threat of violence.
In recent months, police across the country have made arrests in similar cases, including in Ontario and B.C., but officials warn investigations are complex and can take a year or more to reach the point of charges.
For now, Surrey officials hope the unprecedented $250,000 reward will help break the cycle of violence.
“The Surrey Extortion Reward Fund gives us another crucial tool,” Lipinski said. “We need the community’s help to bring those responsible to justice.”
