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RCMP form national coordination team to address extortion schemes

The RCMP has formed a national team to lead the coordinated investigations and information sharing about extortion schemes targeting South Asian businesses in Ontario, B.C. and Alberta.
Described as a “nationwide alliance”, the team will be composed of police agencies that are investigating extortion, violent threats, shootings and arsons.
The team is set to be led by RCMP Supt. Adam MacIntosh, who said it will look into “all similarities and motivations” behind the extortion threats that are reportedly tied to organized crime groups.
“We discourage anyone from complying with demands for money,” MacIntosh said at a news conference Thursday.
“However, we are concerned. There may be individuals who have received threats and not come forward to police. Also, it is possible similar events have occurred in other communities within Canada, but have gone unreported.”
READ MORE: Peel Region police investigating 29 extortion cases, make five arrests
MacIntosh affirmed that the team will not be taking over any investigations. Rather, it will provide support to facilitate information-sharing at national level between forces, including the Peel Regional Police Service.
“These police agencies involved have shared with the public about the advancements made in many of their investigations across Canada,” MacIntosh said.
He added that police hope the national effort will “encourage anyone who has yet to come forward to trust the collective efforts underway and contact their local police.”
Just last week, Peel police reported that they were investigating upwards of 29 cases primarily targeting South Asian businesses, including restaurants, bakeries, trucking companies, car dealerships and jewelry stores. As of Feb. 7, police say five arrests in that jurisdiction had been made.
Supt. Shelley Thompson, who leads a task force probing the threats, said victims are typically contacted through social media platforms and payment in Canadian or Indian currency is demanded under threats of violence, which sometimes occurs.
READ MORE: Peel police launch hotline amid ‘disturbing trend’ in extortion attempts
According to Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, the approximately 24 charges laid against the five people recently arrested sends the message that threats to South Asian businesses will not be tolerated.
The beginning of the year saw Peel police announce the introduction of a dedicated Extortion Investigative Task Force (EITF) and associated hotline that will work alongside community members and other law-enforcement agencies in these continued investigations.
MacIntosh said he couldn’t reveal any specific details of different police investigations, but said “we can certainly be satisfied that there’s an international component and that there’s very likely organized crime involved.”
“We recognize these events can be traumatizing for those who are subjected to threats and acts of violence,” MacIntosh said. “Identifying those responsible for these criminal acts and holding them accountable is our priority.”
This report was created with files from The Canadian Press