The Canada Border Services Agency has announced the removal of three individuals from the country as part of its involvement in B.C.’s newly established provincial extortion task force. Additionally, the agency disclosed that it is currently looking into 78 foreign nationals who may be deemed inadmissible to Canada and could be linked to the recent surge of shootings and extortion incidents in the province.

The extortion task force, which was formed earlier this year, comprises approximately 40 officers from various law enforcement bodies including the CBSA, B.C. RCMP, and municipal police forces. The task force is actively investigating numerous extortion cases and subsequent shootings, particularly targeting South Asian business owners, causing fear in several communities across the province.

B.C. Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger commended the CBSA as a crucial component of the team, emphasizing that those perpetrating violent extortion activities that instill fear in communities will face arrests and charges, and if they are non-Canadian citizens, they may face deportation.

Nina Patel, the regional director general for CBSA’s Pacific region, emphasized the significant role their teams play in disrupting organized transnational criminal groups through their investigations. Several arrests and convictions have been made in connection to the crimes, with some individuals linked to the India-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang, recently designated as a terrorist entity by the federal government.