Five men face charges after two Surrey extortion probes lead to arrests, gun charges, and a citywide police crackdown.
Police Crackdown: Five Charged in Surrey Extortion Cases
Surrey’s battle against rising extortion crimes just took a decisive turn. Police have charged five men in two separate investigations that uncovered shocking links between shootings, arson, and ongoing threats targeting residents and businesses—particularly within the South Asian community.
Three Arrested After March Shooting
In a major development, the Surrey Police Service (SPS) confirmed three arrests connected to a March 27 shooting that investigators say stemmed from an extortion attempt.
The incident occurred around 1:55 a.m. at a home in the 13300-block of 89A Avenue, where gunfire struck the residence. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Later that day, the victim contacted police, triggering a full-scale investigation that linked the attack to a broader extortion case.
After executing several search warrants with help from partner agencies, three suspects were taken into custody on October 3. They’ve been identified as:
- Mandeep Gidda, 23 – charged with reckless discharge of a firearm
- Nirmaandeep Cheema, 20 – charged with reckless discharge of a firearm
- Arundeep Singh, 26 – charged with reckless discharge of a firearm
All three remain in custody and are scheduled to appear in court this week.
“These arrests are a positive step forward,” said SPS Chief Const. Norm Lipinski, adding that police are working “aggressively” with the Provincial Extortions Task Force to tackle these crimes head-on.
Broader Police Collaboration Across the Region
The SPS credited several law enforcement partners for their assistance, including Delta Police, Vancouver Police, New Westminster Police, and specialized Lower Mainland units.
Officials emphasized that extortion cases in Surrey and across Canada have disproportionately affected members of the South Asian community, prompting the creation of a dedicated Extortion Investigations Team and an anonymous tip line to encourage community reporting.
RCMP Lay Charges in Second Extortion Probe
Later that same day, the BC RCMP announced charges in a separate, months-long investigation led by the Lower Mainland District Joint Force Operation (JFO).
The probe focused on a 2024 shooting and arson at the home of a person who had received repeated extortion threats. Following extensive police work, prosecutors have charged:
- Abjeet Kingra, 26 – discharge of a firearm with intent and arson
- Vikram Sharma, 24 – discharge of a firearm with intent and arson
Kingra is currently in custody on another matter. Meanwhile, Sharma remains at large and is wanted on multiple warrants.
Police describe Sharma as a South Asian male, about 5’9” tall and 181 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is urged to contact police or call Crime Stoppers (1-800-222-8477) to remain anonymous.
Police Pledge Continued Action
“These charges show our commitment to the community,” said Chief Supt. Duncan Pound, assistant district commander for the Lower Mainland. “We know these crimes have caused fear, but our expanded resources and joint task forces are putting real pressure on those responsible.”
Both investigations underscore an intensifying crackdown on extortion networks in Surrey—sending a strong message that coordinated police action is closing in on those behind the violence.
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