Calgary Extortion Crackdown Leads to Deportation Orders as Police Refer 45 Suspects to CBSA
Since January 2025, 40 extortion-related incidents have been reported to the Calgary police. More than half of those incidents took place in the last three months, highlighting a concerning escalation in criminal activity targeting vulnerable communities.
Nationwide Investigation Targets Extortion Networks
The Calgary Police Service has referred 45 suspects to the Canada Border Services Agency as part of a coordinated nationwide crackdown on extortion crimes. This initiative has already triggered multiple deportations across the country, with authorities using immigration enforcement as a key tool against organized criminal groups.
Police spokesperson confirmed the referrals in a statement, noting: "Through this work, we have identified suspects and continue to pursue criminal charges. We have also made 45 referrals to CBSA, resulting in several removal orders to date involving suspects believed to be operating in Calgary."
Escalating Violence in Calgary Communities
The extortion trend has particularly impacted Calgary's South Asian community, becoming a top public safety priority for law enforcement. Of the 40 reported incidents since January 2025, 17 involved shootings—a statistic that underscores the violent nature of these crimes.
This year alone has seen nine extortion-related shootings, already surpassing last year's total of eight incidents. The violence has been concentrated in northeast Calgary neighborhoods:
- Four shootings in Saddle Ridge
- Three incidents in Redstone
- Two shootings each in Skyview Ranch and Taradale
Delayed Emergence in Calgary
Investigators note that extortion networks appeared later in Calgary than in other Canadian jurisdictions. "Because these trends have emerged in Calgary more recently than in other parts of Canada, our investigations remain active and evolving," explained Calgary Police Service representatives.
Authorities are working diligently to investigate potential connections between local incidents and extortion operations elsewhere in Canada, recognizing the national scope of this criminal enterprise.
Border Agency's Response and Statistics
The CBSA has launched hundreds of immigration investigations since formally monitoring extortion-related cases in August 2025. As of March 12, the agency reported significant enforcement actions:
- 372 investigations opened in Pacific and Prairie regions
- 70 removal orders issued on various inadmissibility grounds
- 35 deportations carried out nationwide
In the Prairie Region specifically, 18 removal orders have been issued with six people already deported to undisclosed countries. While it's unclear how many cases directly involve Calgary, the numbers demonstrate substantial enforcement activity.
CBSA president Erin O'Gorman emphasized the agency's commitment: "Extortion empowers organized criminal groups, targets vulnerable people and inflicts lasting harm on Canadian communities. The CBSA is committed to using every tool we have to counter this threat."
The coordinated effort between local police and federal immigration authorities represents a multi-pronged approach to combating extortion networks that have increasingly targeted specific communities with violence and intimidation.
