FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, NOV. 6, 2025, VANCOUVER BC – Extortion threats, arsons, and shootings are terrorizing families and businesses—particularly in Surrey. Today, CentreBC is demanding an immediate, coordinated crackdown that uses the tools now available to law enforcement, while protecting victims and speeding prosecutions.

Recent moves have opened the door to faster, stronger action: B.C.’s specialized provincial task force (September) and Ottawa’s terrorist-entity designation of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang unlock asset freezes and material-support offence — critical leverage to dismantle WhatsApp-driven, cross-border networks.

Despite the Surrey police/City tip line and a $250,000 reward fund, incidents remain unacceptably high. First, CentreBC calls on the Leadership of Surrey to begin weekly public-emergency briefings, so residents get timely facts, safety guidance and accountability.

Second, CentreBC is advancing a 3-Step Action Plan for rapid deployment:

1. Transnational Extortion Disruption Program (TEDP)
   Establish an integrated FINTRAC–RCMP–CBSA cell in Surrey to map money flows, fast-track
   production orders and freeze assets within hours, not weeks.
2. ‘Shield & Signal’ — Victim-First Reporting + Hardening + Fast Protection
   Launch a multilingual, evidence-preserving portal; provide $2–$5K security micro-grants; and
   set a 48-hour protection standard with real-time analytics to pre-empt sprees.
3. Extortion-Focused Prosecution Track & Intelligence Court (Pilot)
   Create a dedicated docket and specialized Crown team to move complex, multi-accused files
   faster, combining criminal-organization and terrorist-entity tools.

“Extortion is a financial crime with violence attached. Put a FINTRAC–RCMP–CBSA cell in Surrey, map the money, and freeze it within hours—that’s how you break the cycle of WhatsApp threats, arsons, and shootings,” said Trevor Loke, CentreBC spokesperson and former Executive Director of Transparency International Canada.

“Small businesses—especially in Surrey’s South Asian community—need practical help and protection now: a multilingual, evidence-preserving portal, $2–$5K security micro-grants, a 48-hour protection standard, and real-time police analytics to stop sprees before they escalate,” said Anita Huberman, long-time community advocate and CentreBC member.“ The recent shootings in Surrey are deeply troubling, compromising not only public safety but also confidence in the city’s economic future. When incidents of violence become frequent, they erode investor confidence, deter new business development, and affect the city’s overall livability and reputation.”

Immediate Calls to Action

• City of Surrey: commence weekly public-emergency updates
• Province & Ottawa: stand up the Surrey-based TEDP cell and fund Shield & Signal
• Businesses & Residents: report threats and preserve digital evidence via the Surrey tip line/portal (screenshots, call logs, WhatsApp exports)

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BACKGROUNDER

Trevor Loke and Anita Huberman are available for interviews. For more information, contact:

MEDIA CONTACT
Scott Williams
CentreBC
604-356-7606
[email protected]