The RCMP says it has established a national team to help co-ordinate investigations and information sharing about extortion schemes targeting South Asian businesses in B.C., Alberta and Ontario.
Mounties say the team is a “nationwide alliance” of police agencies that are all investigating extortion and violent threats, which have been tied to shootings and arson.
The RCMP says the team is not taking over any investigations, but rather providing support to facilitate “seamless” information-sharing at a national level between forces including Peel Regional Police, Surrey RCMP and the Edmonton Police Service.
RCMP Supt. Adam MacIntosh, the team’s leader, says it’s looking into “all similarities and motivations” behind the extortion threats, which are reportedly tied to organized crime groups.
Peel Regional Police formed a task force to investigate extortion incidents in Ontario in December, and the Edmonton
