OTTAWA — The Canada Border Services Agency says it is expanding efforts to disrupt extortion networks across the country, with hundreds of investigations underway and dozens of removals already carried out.
The agency says it has opened 372 immigration investigations tied to suspected extortion-related activity as of March 12. Of those, 70 removal orders have been issued and 35 people have been removed from Canada.
Officials say the work is being carried out in partnership with law enforcement agencies, including joint efforts with the B.C. Extortion Task Force, the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team in Edmonton and Calgary, and police services in Ontario and other regions.
The CBSA began formally tracking immigration cases linked to extortion in Western Canada in August 2025, later expanding efforts to the Greater Toronto Area.
Two recent cases highlighted by the agency involved individuals found inadmissible due to alleged ties to organized crime. Both were detained and later deported following rulings by the Immigration and Refugee Board.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said coordinated enforcement is key to addressing evolving criminal threats, while CBSA president Erin O’Gorman said the agency is using immigration tools to remove individuals linked to organized crime and extortion.
The CBSA says it continues to investigate cases and encourages the public to report tips through its Border Watch Line.
The agency removed more than 22,500 inadmissible individuals in 2025, including more than 1,000 linked to serious criminality.
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