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New Delhi: Canadian authorities have stepped up their crackdown on extortion-related crimes, deporting a 20-year-old Indian national accused of being part of a growing criminal network in Surrey, British Columbia. The move comes as law enforcement agencies respond to a sharp rise in extortion cases and other criminal activities, especially targeting members of the South Asian community.

The accused, identified as Prabhjot Singh, had reportedly been under investigation for his alleged role in extortion-related criminal activity. Police arrested him earlier this year and later shared intelligence with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), which initiated immigration proceedings leading to his removal from the country.

Officials related to the case said the deportation was part of a broader strategy where individuals found violating immigration laws while linked to criminal networks are swiftly removed. Authorities have also released Singh’s photograph, hoping to gather more information about his associates.

Surrey Police Service (SPS) while releasing his photograph said they hope of appealing “to the public for information on his associates and activities while he was in Canada. This individual is suspected of being involved in the ongoing extortion crisis”. “SPS continues to work with our law enforcement partners with the shared objective of tackling the inter-jurisdictional and national components of extortion,” said the Service’s Chief Constable Norm Lipinski said, adding, “We remain steadfastly committed to our policing colleagues and to our community in combatting the extortion crisis.”

The case highlights a deepening extortion crisis in Surrey, where police have recorded dozens of incidents this year, including shootings tied to intimidation and money demands. Investigators believe such crimes are often part of wider networks operating across borders, involving both local actors and overseas handlers.

Police officials say identifying and targeting lower-level operatives, often described as “foot soldiers”, is key to dismantling these networks.