The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has removed 81 people from Canada since August 2025 who have been linked to “extortion-related activities.”
In the latest update, issued Thursday (June 25), the CBSA stated that the majority of those removed have been in the Pacific region, which includes B.C. and the Yukon. In total, 46 individuals were in the Pacific region, 17 in the Greater Toronto Area, and 18 in the Prairie region.
The CBSA is part of a B.C. extortion task force that was launched in September 2025. The task force is made up of 40 officers from the B.C. RCMP, Abbotsford Police Department, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit – B.C. (CFSEU-BC), Delta Police Department, Metro Vancouver Transit Police and Surrey Police Service. It also receives support from the federal RCMP National Co-ordination and Support Team.
A month before the task force was officially launched, the CBSA “implemented enhanced tracking of immigration enforcement cases” that had potential links to extortion in B.C., Alberta and later the Toronto area.
“When police identify individuals who may be in violation of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), they refer these cases to the CBSA for investigation, which may result in enforcement actions, including removal from Canada,” reads the update. “In relation to this work, as of June 18, 2026, the CBSA has opened 484 immigration investigations, 139 removal orders have been issued on various inadmissibility grounds and are in the process of being enforced, with 81 individuals having already been removed from Canada,” reads the CBSA update.
In Surrey, there have been 128 reported extortions, 20 extortion-related shootings, two arsons and 70 victims, 34 of which are repeat victims, in 2026.
Erin O’Gorman, president of Canada Border Services Agency, said, “The CBSA is working side by side with other law enforcement partners to counter extortion, disrupt criminal networks, and prevent further harm to our communities. We are committed to ensuring that individuals involved in these activities cannot find safe haven in Canada.”
On Thursday (June 25), the Surrey Police stated in a press release that the CBSA had two men in its custody in connection with the June 11 extortion-related shooting in the City Centre neighbourhood.
Arman Singh, 21, and Simarjeet Singh, 22, have been charged with one count of reckless discharge of a firearm each. The other two men have not been charged with a criminal offence “at this time,” but as they are foreign nationals, they are in the custody of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), police said. As Arman and Simarjeet are also foreign nationals, the Surrey police have also been in contact with the CBSA about them as well.
In 2025, the CBSA removed 23,160 people from Canada for various reasons. Over 1,000 of those were deemed inadmissible for “serious criminality,” which included national security, war crimes or human rights violations, organized crime, and criminality.
Around 400 people are removed from Canada each week after being deemed inadmissible.
About the Author: Anna Burns
I cover breaking news, health care, court, Vancouver Rise FC, Vancouver Goldeneyes and social issues-related topics for the Surrey Now-Leader. anna.burns@surreynowleader.com Follow Anna on Twitter.