International nature of B.C. extortion cases makes investigations complex: former RCMP officer

Two years after the first report of what would become a wave of extortion attempts was made in B.C., the threats, demands and related violence continue to persist in the province.

Most recently, a shooting in South Surrey, B.C., on Nov. 8, was linked to extortion, according to police. It’s one of dozens of investigations happening in the province; as of Nov. 7, more than 100 extortion incidents had been reported in B.C. in 2025.

The India-based Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility for some Canadian shootings on social media, and police have said there is evidence connecting the Bishnoi gang to Indian government agents.

Galib Bhayani, a Kwantlen Polytechnic University criminology professor and former RCMP officer, said the international nature of these extortion attempts are making it difficult for police to investigate them.

“Let's be frank, these [extortion attempts] are happening from India,” he told CBC’s The Early Edition. “Our relationship with India in terms of information sharing is not good. At other levels, it's not good as well.”

The past couple of years have been tense between Canada and India.

The relationship between the two countries broke down after then-Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian government agents of being involved in the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Surrey gurdwara in 2023.  India dismissed the allegations as absurd and politically motivated.

The ties further devolved a year later, as each country expelled the other's top diplomats. 

Last year, federal RCMP commissioner Michael Duheme said RCMP had strong evidence showing the "highest levels" of the Indian government were involved in orchestrating a campaign of violence on Canadian soil, including murder, extortion and intimidation.

The commissioner said attempts to share evidence with Indian police had been unsuccessful.

Bhayani said local B.C. police forces are not experienced with these types of investigations, which require extensive resourcing. 

“The intimidation, the execution [of these crimes] is highly localized and often carried out with individuals who are aware of the cultural norms, speak the language, understand the business patterns of the victims,” Bhayani said.

“This means the traditional policing is insufficient. We do need to have better relationships with our partners internationally. But because we don't have that, we have to work with what we have right now," he said.

In September, the province announced a special RCMP-led taskforce dedicated to investigating extortion, bringing together 40 members from various law enforcement agencies, including intelligence analysts.