It’s an investigation, police say, that is taxing their resources: the rising number of extortions involving gunshots, arson, and finally some arrests.

The issue intensified in 2025, with many saying the year saw an unprecedented amount of extortion-related crime.

In most cases, businesses or individuals received threatening texts, saying they would face violence or property damage if they didn’t hand over a large sum of money.

There have been cases in Delta and Abbotsford, but Surrey has been the hotbed, with the South Asian community being specifically targeted.

There were more than 100 reports of extortion in Surrey alone this year, with dozens linked to shootings or shots-fired calls. More than 75 victims say they have been repeatedly contacted by criminals.

One of the most high-profile investigations involved Kap’s Café — a local restaurant linked to a big Bollywood star — that has had its windows shattered over and over again and has been forced to shut down temporarily on multiple occasions.

Surrey Police Service Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton told 1130 NewsRadio that some criminals are getting money out of their victims.

“It’s sometimes in the tens of thousands, up into the hundreds of thousands.”

In Abbotsford, police say they received 65 extortion reports between November 2023 and December 2025.

“Of these, only nine involved shots being fired,” said Abbotsford Police Department Sgt. Paul Walker.

“The remaining reports were non-violent, where individuals received letters, phone calls, or text messages threatening violence that never materialized.”

A special provincial task force was created to deal with the problem. As well, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke announced a $250,000 reward for anyone with information that would lead to a conviction.

The federal government got involved to address the situation and met with various stakeholders, including Premier David Eby, who said this can’t go on.

“We are united and working together to ensure that everybody who has been affected by these extortion threats gets the response they deserve and gets the supports that they need, and the individuals behind these crimes are arrested, prosecuted, and jailed.”

There have been some arrests and charges approved, but nothing that’s been significant enough to put a stop to the crisis.