#GLOBALNEWS Surrey extortion threats: BC government, police give update as 250k reward posted | LIVE

The rise in cases has prompted the City of Surrey to put up a $250,000 reward for information leading to convictions.

In August, a car wash in Surrey was targeted with gunfire. The owner told Global News it came after recent extortion threats.

Then in early September, Surrey police said they believed an early morning shooting in a residential neighbourhood was linked to “an ongoing extortion investigation.” Police in the area had been investigating extortion targeting the South Asian business community, with some cases linked to the India-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

Politicians, including Premier David Eby and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, have urged Ottawa to designate the gang as a terrorist entity.

Surrey Police Chief Const. Norm Lipinski said Monday the Surrey Extortion Reward Fund would provide police with another tool to address “the most urgent issue in our community.”