VANCOUVER — Three individuals have been deported from Canada as part of an ongoing crackdown on a violent extortion and shooting network in British Columbia, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) confirmed Friday.
The removals are part of the CBSA’s collaboration with the B.C. Extortion Task Force, a specialized unit formed earlier this year to dismantle organized crime rings believed to be behind a surge of threats and attacks against business owners — many from the South Asian community.
In addition to the deportations, the agency said it is investigating 78 other foreign nationals suspected of being inadmissible to Canada due to their alleged involvement in extortion, firearms offences, and gang-related activity.
The task force includes members from the CBSA, the RCMP, local police forces, and B.C.’s anti-gang unit, working together to identify and disrupt transnational criminal networks operating in the province.
Nina Patel, CBSA’s regional director general for the Pacific region, said the coordinated action demonstrates the agency’s crucial role in protecting Canadians from international crime syndicates. “Our joint investigations highlight how immigration enforcement can be an effective tool in disrupting organized criminal groups operating across borders,” Patel said.
The wave of extortion attempts and targeted shootings has shaken several B.C. communities, with many incidents linked to an India-based criminal network led by Lawrence Bishnoi — a group recently listed by the federal government as a terrorist entity.
Authorities say investigations are continuing, with multiple arrests and convictions already secured, as law enforcement agencies intensify efforts to root out those using Canada as a base for transnational organized crime.