The Canada Border Services Agency has removed three people from Canada and started investigations into 78 foreign nationals in connection with B.C.’s ongoing extortion crisis.
The CBSA announced the move on Nov. 7. The border agency is part of the B.C. Extortion Task Force that was announced by the Province of B.C. in September and is led by the RCMP.
The task force was created to address the extortion-related threats and violence that have plagued businesses and business owners in the South Asian community, particularly in Lower Mainland communities including Surrey and Abbotsford.
The role of the CBSA in this task force is to “assist in the execution of search warrants, conduct Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) investigations and share information with law enforcement partners,” according to a CBSA release.
To date, the CBSA has initiated immigration investigations into 78 foreign nationals who may be inadmissible to Canada. Three people have been removed from Canada as a result.
B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger said the CBSA is an “essential part” of the task force.
“Those who commit violent extortion that terrorize our communities will be arrested, charged and, as we’ve seen today, if they are not Canadian citizens they may be removed from Canada,” Krieger said in a press release. “I thank CBSA officers for their vigilance and their active role in protecting British Columbians.”
The BC Extortion Task Force consists of 40 members drawn from various policing agencies, including the CBSA, B.C. RCMP, Abbotsford Police Department, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit – B.C., Delta Police Department, Metro Vancouver Transit Police, Surrey Police Service and Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit. The task force receives support from the federal RCMP National Co-ordination and Support Team (NCST), which offers co-ordination and information sharing on extortion cases with law-enforcement agencies in affected provinces including B.C., Alberta and Ontario.
Nina Patel, CBSA’s regional director general for the Pacific Region, said the latest enforcement actions highlight the critical role of intelligence and inland enforcement teams in “disrupting organized transnational criminal groups.”
“We will pursue the swift removal of individuals who have abused our immigration system and who compromise the safety of our communities,” Patel said.
The CBSA encourages members of the public to report suspicious immigration activities through the Border Watch Line by calling 1-888-502-9060.
Anyone with information regarding criminal activity is encouraged to contact their local police, the RCMP at 1-800-387-0020 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.