A family in Surrey, British Columbia, is on edge following a police raid that occurred three weeks ago. Sameer Arora, the father, described the incident as traumatic. On October 24, members of the provincial extortion task force executed a search warrant at his home, targeting a man who had been living in their basement suite.

Arora recounted that a tactical squad of about 25 officers arrived in full force, blocking the street with police vehicles. Officers, armed and accompanied by police dogs, stormed the property without prior notice, breaking down the front gate and the basement door. "They would have broken down the front door as well if my children hadn’t been home," Arora said.

The individual named in the search warrant, a 21-year-old man, was not present during the raid. According to Arora, an officer informed him that the man was a suspect in an extortion and firearms investigation. After the police left, Arora received a message from the suspect claiming, "I’m innocent, I’m not involved in these activities... He said it was a mistake from the police side."

Surrey has been at the center of an ongoing extortion crisis affecting parts of B.C.'s Lower Mainland. The Surrey Police Service reported 95 extortion incidents this year, with at least 43 involving gunfire. This marks a significant increase from the 20 cases reported in all of 2022.

In response to the growing concern, a town hall meeting was held in Surrey, where community members, law enforcement, and politicians gathered to discuss the extortion issue. Arora attended the meeting, holding a sign to raise awareness of his family's situation as indirect victims of the violence.

As part of the task force's efforts, seven individuals have been arrested and charged with extortion-related offenses in British Columbia, with more charges anticipated. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has also been involved, leading to the removal of three individuals from Canada and initiating investigations into 78 foreign nationals who may not meet admissibility criteria.

The CBSA has not disclosed the reasons for the removals or the identities of those involved. According to B.C. RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Vanessa Munn, none of the three individuals were charged with any criminal offenses. RCMP Assistant Commissioner John Brewer noted that many of the 78 individuals under investigation are foreign students.

Wade Deisman, a criminologist, commented on the implications of deportation, suggesting that it might not deter criminal behavior. "If the aim is deterrence through prosecution and punishment, every time you simply just deport somebody, you've kind of said you can come here and do whatever you want with impunity," he said.

In light of the extortion threats, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has requested an additional 150 police officers for the city. While this request has garnered support from provincial and federal officials, Deisman expressed skepticism about its feasibility given the current staffing shortages in law enforcement across Canada.

Arora remains uncertain about the legal status of his former tenant, who moved out of the basement suite on November 2, with police assistance. Despite this, he and his family continue to feel unsafe. "We don’t know if he’s a criminal or just a suspect," Arora said. "I was able to kick that person out from my property, but we are still living in fear. We are not feeling safe at all."

The RCMP has stated that they cannot provide specific details regarding ongoing investigations due to their sensitive nature. Munn emphasized that privacy laws prevent the sharing of information about individuals who have not been criminally charged.